Intensification of imperatorin extraction from Aegle marmelos by ultrasound assisted three phase partitioning: Comparative studies and exploring its ethnomedicinal uses

The current work demonstrates the use of a hybrid technique where ultrasound was coupled with three phase partitioning (UA-TPP) to intensify the extraction of imperatorin from fruits of A. marmelos. The optimized parameters obtained were ultrasound time 30 min, ammonium sulphate mass fraction 30 % (w/v), biomass to solvent proportion 1:40 (w/v), biomass slurry to t-butanol proportion 1:1 (v/v), ultrasound power 120 W, and duty cycle 60% (6 sec on 4 sec off). The maximum extraction yield of imperatorin obtained was 5.44 mg/g using UA-TPP, which was much higher than the traditional techniques such as three-phase partitioning (TPP), Soxhlet, and batch extraction. The extraction time was also drastically reduced to 30 min in UA-TPP from 150 min compared to TPP. UA-TPP enhanced the extraction yield of imperatorin with a reduction in time and improved the ethnomedicinal properties such as total phenolic and flavonoid content, antioxidant activity and antiinflammatory activity as compared to traditional extraction techniques.

Automated summary

The study utilized a hybrid technique combining ultrasound with three phase partitioning (UA-TPP) to extract imperatorin from A. marmelos fruits, resulting in a higher extraction yield and improved ethnomedicinal properties while significantly reducing extraction time.