A review of ultrasound-assisted extraction for plant bioactive compounds: Phenolics, flavonoids, thymols, saponins and proteins

Plant bioactive compounds are important sources for the development of food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical products. Ultrasound-assisted extraction is one of the promising methods in the extraction of plant bioactive compounds. The ultrasonic-assisted extraction is accepted as a green extraction technique due to its high performance with less solvent and time consumption, as well as suitable for thermo-sensitive compounds. The objective of this paper is to review the recent advancement of ultrasound-assisted extraction for bioactive compounds from plant material. The mechanism and advantages of ultrasound-assisted extraction are discussed, particularly focusing on the extraction of bioactive compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, thymols, saponins and proteins. Previous studies on the optimization of extraction variables are systematically reviewed to reveal their significant contribution to the yield and quality change of bioactive compounds. Ultrasonic technology has also been combined with other processing technologies to improve food quality, stability, safety and security. Therefore, ultrasound-assisted extraction is effective to recover bioactive compounds from plant materials and enhance the processing of food industries.

Automated summary

Plant bioactive compounds are valuable resources for the development of various products such as food, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. Ultrasound-assisted extraction has emerged as a promising method for extracting these compounds due to its high efficiency, low solvent and time consumption, and suitability for thermo-sensitive compounds. This paper reviews recent advancements in ultrasound-assisted extraction, with a focus on the extraction of compounds such as phenolics, flavonoids, thymols, saponins, and proteins. The paper discusses the mechanism and advantages of ultrasound-assisted extraction, as well as the optimization of extraction variables and the potential for combining ultrasound technology with other processing techniques to enhance food quality and safety. Overall, ultrasound-assisted extraction is an effective method for recovering bioactive compounds from plant materials and improving food processing.