Methods for Rapid Screening of Biologically Active Compounds Present in Plant-Based Extracts

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Analytical Chemistry
• Natural Product Chemistry

Background:

• Growing consumer demand for natural origin products fuels interest in plant-based bioactive compounds.
• Efficient extraction and identification methods are crucial for developing new bioproducts from plant matrices.
• Rapid analytical techniques can expedite early-stage product development, reducing time and costs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare accessible analytical methods for identifying various bioactive compounds in plant extracts.
• To examine the multielemental composition of plant extracts.
• To validate the presence of bioactive compounds in extracts obtained via ultrasound-assisted extraction.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of accessible identification methods for saponins, carboxylic acids, oils and fats, proteins and amino acids, steroids, and alkaloids.
• Examination of multielemental composition using appropriate analytical techniques.
• Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) for obtaining plant bio-products.

Main Results:

• Confirmed the presence of diverse bioactive compounds (saponins, alkaloids, etc.) in plant extracts.
• Identified specific bioactive compounds using the compared accessible methods.
• Validated the efficacy of ultrasound-assisted extraction in producing bioactive-rich extracts.

Conclusions:

• Accessible analytical methods are effective for preliminary identification of key bioactive compounds in plant extracts.
• Ultrasound-assisted extraction is a viable method for obtaining plant bio-products containing biologically active compounds.
• Further quantitative and qualitative analysis using advanced techniques is recommended for precise characterization.