Bioactive compound extraction from giloy leaves and steam using ultrasound: bioactivity, antimicrobial, and LC–MS/MS study

What if the key to healthier food and natural antibiotics is hiding in a humble climbing shrub? Ultrasound just unlocked its secrets.

Giloy, a traditional medicinal plant, has long been celebrated for its health-boosting compounds. But scientists wanted more than folklore—they wanted proof. So they turned to ultrasound, a green extraction technology, to coax out the plant's hidden treasures from both stems and leaves.

Using a clever statistical design, the team optimized the extraction process. They tested different solvent ratios, sonication times, and concentrations. The sweet spot? A 22.5:1 solvent-to-solid ratio, 40 minutes of ultrasound, and 75% solvent concentration. Under these conditions, the extracts showed impressive antioxidant activity and high phenolic content.

But the surprises didn't stop there. The extracts also halted the growth of two notorious bacteria—Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. When the team examined the optimized extracts with LC-MS/MS, they found a lineup of powerful polyphenols: catechin, quercetin, kaempferol, ellagic acid, hesperidin, and berberine, along with malic acid.

These findings suggest that ultrasound can efficiently unlock giloy's bioactive potential. The result? Giloy could become a tasty, long-lasting functional ingredient in foods and drinks—bridging ancient wisdom with modern science.

Key Points

• Ultrasound optimizes giloy extraction at 22.5:1, 40 min, 75% solvent.
• Extracts inhibit S. aureus and E. coli growth.
• LC-MS/MS reveals polyphenols like quercetin, berberine, catechin.