PHYTOCHEMICALS, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF CENTELLA ASIATICA EXTRACTED BY SOLVENT-FREE MICROWAVE EXTRACTION

Imagine extracting the healing power of a plant in just 15 minutes, without a drop of solvent. That's the promise of a green technique that just proved its mettle on the legendary 'gotu kola'.

For centuries, Centella asiatica, or gotu kola, has been a staple in traditional medicine. Now, scientists are unlocking its secrets with a modern, eco-friendly twist: solvent-free microwave extraction (SFME). This method ditches harmful solvents and slashes extraction time, making it a game-changer for the pharmaceutical, food, and cosmetic industries.

In this study, researchers zapped 20 grams of fresh gotu kola in a microwave at 300 watts for just 15 minutes, under vacuum and with stirring. The result? A rich extract packed with flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and volatile oils—all confirmed by GC-MS analysis. But that's not all: the extract showed impressive antioxidant power, with an IC50 of 0.06 mg/ml, and a total phenolic content of 10.75 mg GAE per gram of dry weight.

The extract also flexed its antimicrobial muscles against a rogues' gallery of pathogens, including E. coli, S. aureus, and several Aspergillus species. This means SFME not only preserves the plant's beneficial compounds but does so faster and greener than ever. It's a win-win for science and the planet.

Key Points

• SFME: solvent-free, 15-minute extraction at 300 W
• Extract rich in flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, volatile oils
• Antioxidant (IC50 0.06) and antimicrobial against 8 microbes