Optimization of ionic liquid-assisted extraction of biflavonoids from Selaginella doederleinii and evaluation of its antioxidant and antitumor activity

Can a modern green solvent unlock the hidden medicinal powers of an ancient fern-like plant? Scientists are harnessing ionic liquids to extract valuable compounds faster and smarter than ever before.

When it comes to unearthing nature's hidden pharmacy, traditional extraction methods often fall short. Enter ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction (IL-MAE)—a novel, green technique deployed here for the first time to extract total biflavonoids from the plant Selaginella doederleinii. By fine-tuning variables like microwave power, extraction time, and temperature using a statistical response surface methodology, researchers successfully dialed in the sweet spot: 460 W, 40 minutes, and 45 °C.

This optimized process yielded 16.83 milligrams of total biflavonoids per gram, while exhibiting an impressive radical scavenging IC50 value of 56.24 micrograms per milliliter. When put to the test, the resulting extracts demonstrated robust antioxidant capabilities across multiple assays, alongside notable antitumor activity against A549 and 7721 cancer cell lines.

Compared to conventional techniques like standard microwave-assisted extraction and Soxhlet extraction, the ionic liquid method proved to be the most efficient. It operates at lower temperatures and in shorter timeframes, establishing a valuable, eco-friendly pathway for sourcing natural medicines.

Key Points

• First application of IL-MAE on Selaginella doederleinii
• Optimized yield reached 16.83 mg/g
• Showed potent antioxidant and anticancer capacity