Microwave-assisted extraction of the main phenolic compounds in flaxseed

A microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) method has been applied for the first time to the extraction of the main lignan, secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG), and the two most concentrated hydroxycinnamic acid glucosides in flaxseed. The effects of microwave power, extraction time and alkaline treatment were investigated. It was shown that a 3 min MAE resulted in an SDG content of 16.1 +/- 0.4 mg/g, a p-coumaric acid glucoside content of 3.7 +/- 0.2 mg/g and a fertilic acid glucoside content of 4.1 +/- 0.2 mg/g. These values were compared with those obtained using conventional extraction methods and the results demonstrated that MAE was more effective in terms of both yield and time consumption. Copyright (C) 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.