Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction for the Green Recovery of Bioactive Compounds from Gunnera tinctoria Mol.

What if the secret to greener chemistry was hiding in a plant's leaves? Nalca, a traditional Chilean superfood, just proved it.

Nalca (Gunnera tinctoria) has long been cherished for its edible stems and medicinal lore. But its leaves, often discarded, hold a treasure trove of bioactive compounds. Now, scientists have found a way to unlock them without harsh chemicals.

They turned to natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs)—eco-friendly liquids made from natural ingredients. Using ultrasound to boost extraction, they pulled out phenolic compounds and alkaloids from Nalca leaves. The team confirmed the solvents' structure with NMR and measured their properties to see how they influenced efficiency.

Results were striking: total phenolic content ranged from 6.8 to 142.6 mg GAE/g dry weight, while alkaloids hit 0.2 to 3.2 mg OXIE/g. Antioxidant tests (DPPH and FRAP) showed strong activity, mostly tracking with phenolic levels. And in many cases, NADES outperformed conventional solvents.

This isn't just a lab curiosity. NADES offers a green path for extracting valuable compounds for food, nutraceutical, and pharmaceutical use. By tweaking solvent properties, researchers can selectively target different metabolites. The future of extraction just got a little greener—and it started with a humble plant.

Key Points

• NADES extracts phenolics and alkaloids from Nalca leaves.
• Yields comparable or superior to conventional solvents.
• Green alternative for food, nutraceutical, pharmaceutical use.