Ultrasonic-assisted extraction and natural deep eutectic solvents combination: A green strategy to improve the recovery of phenolic compounds from lavandula pedunculata subsp. lusitanica (chaytor) franco

What happens when you pair cutting-edge green chemistry with wild lavender? You unlock a sustainable powerhouse of antioxidants and enzyme inhibitors without touching a single conventional organic solvent.

Researchers set out to transform how we extract valuable compounds from *Lavandula pedunculata* subsp. *lusitanica* by testing ten different natural deep eutectic solvents against traditional options. By combining these innovative solvents with a sixty-minute ultrasound-assisted extraction, the team discovered a remarkably efficient green strategy.

Among the lineup, specific formulations—proline combined with lactic acid and choline chloride paired with urea—shone brightest. They yielded the highest total phenolic contents and impressive antioxidant activities measured through standard DPPH and ABTS methods. Beyond just fighting oxidation, these extracts flexed some serious biological muscle, showing a notable capacity to inhibit specific enzymes like tyrosinase and acetylcholinesterase, with organic acid-based mixtures leading the charge.

Digging deeper with advanced HPLC-HRMS analysis, scientists successfully identified twenty-four distinct phenolic compounds hiding within the plants. Rosmarinic acid, ferulic acid, and salvianolic acid B stepped up as the major players. Ultimately, this dynamic duo of ultrasound technology and green solvents proves to be a stellar, sustainable alternative to legacy organic solvents, holding immense potential for industrial-scale bio-compounds extraction.

Key Points

• Ten different natural deep eutectic solvents evaluated against conventional solvents
• Ultrasound-assisted extraction for 60 min proved to be the best condition
• Twenty-four phenolic compounds identified, with rosmarinic acid as a major compound