Enhancing bioactive compound extraction from hemp sprouts: Synergistic effects of NADES and ultrasound

Hemp sprouts are tiny powerhouses of health-promoting compounds—and scientists have just found a greener, smarter way to unlock them using natural solvents and sound waves.

Hemp sprouts are gaining serious attention in food science, and for good reason: they are packed with bioactive compounds that support human health. But extracting those valuable molecules has often required harsh, toxic solvents. This study offers a cleaner alternative by pairing natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES)—eco-friendly liquids made from natural ingredients—with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), where sound waves help break plant cells open gently and efficiently.

Researchers optimized the process by testing different NADES combinations and fine-tuning temperature, solvent ratio, and ultrasonic power. Their cleverest move was a dual-extraction strategy: using both water-loving (hydrophilic) and oil-loving (hydrophobic) NADES in different orders to selectively capture various compound families, from polyphenols to carotenoids and chlorophylls.

The results were striking. Extracting first with lactic acid:glucose, then with decanoic acid:menthol, yielded the highest phenolic content at 10.65 mg GAE per gram of sample. Reversing the order—hydrophobic first, then hydrophilic—maximized carotenoids (2.13 mg β-carotene/g) and chlorophylls (2.58 mg/g). This simple, green method proves that smart sequencing can replace toxic chemistry.

This approach is not just effective—it is scalable and safe, offering a sustainable pathway for the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries to produce high-value extracts without harming the planet.

Key Points

• NADES plus ultrasound boosts hemp sprout extraction efficiency
• Dual solvent order selectively targets polyphenols vs carotenoids
• Highest phenolics: 10.65 mg GAE/g sample