Intensification of Polyphenols Extraction from Eryngium creticum Leaves Using Ired-Irrad® and Evaluation of Antibiofilm and Antibacterial Activities

(1) Background: Eryngium creticum is a plant medicinally valued, and used in pharmacopeia to treat various diseases. No previous studies have been reported on E. creticum leaf extracts using an IR-assisted technique; thus, this study aimed to intensify polyphenol extraction using Ired Irrad (R) comparing it to the conventional water bath (WB) method. (2) Methods: Optimization of polyphenol extraction from E. creticum leaves was conducted using Response Surface Methodology. Ired Irrad (R) was used and compared to the WB method. The biological activities (antiradical, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antibiofilm) of both extracts were assessed. UHPLC analysis was performed to analyze the phytochemical profile of both extracts. (3) Results: Under optimal conditions, IR improved the polyphenol extraction yield by 1.7 times, while lowering ethanol consumption by 1.5 times. Regarding the antibacterial activity, both WB and IR E. creticum leaf extracts exhibited the highest antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus epidermidis. The maximum biofilm prevention capacity was also noticed against S. epidermidis. UHPLC-MS analysis quantified two major phenolic compounds in both extracts: rutin and sinapic acid. (4) Conclusions: Ired Irrad (R) technology proved to be an effective technique in intensifying polyphenol recovery, while preserving their quantity and quality.

Automated summary

The study utilized IR technology to enhance the extraction efficiency of polyphenols from Eryngium creticum leaves, while maintaining the quantity and quality of the extracts. Additionally, the extracts exhibited antibacterial and antibiofilm properties.