Summer savory extracts prepared by novel extraction methods resulted in enhanced biological activity

Satureja hortensis L. (summer savory) is herb from Lamiaceae plant family known by its usage in folk medicine and cooking. Despite these facts, this plant was not well studied regarding the application of nonconventional extraction techniques and utilization of prepared extracts. Thus, aim of this study was to prepare extract using conventional (maceration and Soxhlet) and non-conventional (ultrasound-assisted, microwave-assisted and subcritical water) approaches, to establish their chemical profile and biological activity using different assays and methods. Results confirmed the domination of subcritical water approach for isolation of natural compounds, following by microwave-assisted extraction. High performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection (HPLC-PDA) analysis confirmed the presence and domination of rosmarinic acid in conventionally prepared extracts, while rutin and quercetin dominated in non-conventionally prepared ones. Antioxidant and cytotoxic assays followed the trends of previous analysis, where the highest activity was exhibited by subcritical extract. Thus, results showed that extracts may be applied in food and pharmaceutical industries for utilization.