Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADESs) for the Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) Leaves: A Semi-Quantitative Analysis Using High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography

What if the greenest way to unlock quinoa's health secrets is hiding in plain sight—in natural deep eutectic solvents? A new study shows these eco-friendly liquids can replace harsh petrochemicals to extract flavonoids and antioxidants from quinoa leaves.

The real test came when these NADES extracts were analyzed using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). The results were striking: two mixtures, N2 (choline chloride-glucose-water) diluted with 20% water, and N7 (glycerol-choline chloride-water), matched methanol's ability to pull out flavonoids, radical scavengers, and α-amylase inhibitors from quinoa leaves. These bioactive compounds are key for nutraceutical applications, and the NADES extracts showed such promise that they could be directly incorporated into health products, offering a greener path from lab to supplement bottle.

Key Points

• Eight NADES mixtures tested for green extraction of quinoa leaf bioactives.
• N2 with 20% water and N7 rival methanol in extracting flavonoids and inhibitors.
• NADES extracts show potential for direct nutraceutical formulation use.