Green and Innovative Extraction: Phenolic Profiles and Biological Activities of Underutilized Plant Extracts Using Pulsed Electric Fields and Maceration

Three forgotten desert plants might hold the key to tomorrow's medicines—and the secret to unlocking them lies in a bolt of electricity.

For centuries, traditional healers have turned to Asteriscus graveolens, Haloxylon scoparium, and Ruta chalepensis for their healing properties. Now, science is catching up. These underutilized species are packed with bioactive compounds that could revolutionize functional foods and pharmaceuticals. But how do we extract them without damaging their delicate chemistry?

Enter pulsed electric fields (PEF)—a green technology that zaps plant cells with short electrical pulses, opening pores and releasing compounds without harsh solvents. Researchers compared PEF to traditional maceration (MAC), measuring phenolic content and biological activities like antioxidant, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects.

The results were nuanced. For R. chalepensis, PEF achieved 58 mg/g of phenolics, close to MAC's 72 mg/g. But MAC generally won on phenolic yield for the other plants. A. graveolens showed significant antitumoral and anti-inflammatory promise. Against bacteria, MAC extracts were stronger, yet PEF outperformed MAC against Aspergillus brasiliensis, with a MIC of 10 mg/mL. Both methods showed antioxidant activity, with TBARS IC50 values from 17 to 79.5 µg/mL.

While MAC often took the lead, PEF shines as a solvent-free, eco-friendly alternative. It aligns perfectly with green extraction principles, offering a sustainable path forward—one that could make medicine a little greener, one zap at a time.

Key Points

• PEF extraction matched maceration for R. chalepensis phenolics (58 vs 72 mg/g).
• PEF beat maceration against A. brasiliensis (MIC 10 mg/mL).
• PEF is solvent-free, eco-friendly, and green-aligned.