Optimized microwave-assisted azadirachtin extraction using response surface methodology.

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Science
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Process Optimization

Background:

• Neem (Azadirachta indica) is a source of bioinsecticides, with azadirachtin being a key component in the growing biopesticide market.
• Existing extraction methods (RSM and MAE) for neem oil often require high organic solvent volumes and long extraction times.
• There is a need for optimized, efficient extraction techniques for azadirachtin to support sustainable agriculture.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine optimal conditions for extracting azadirachtin from neem seeds using microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) in a hydroalcoholic medium.
• To apply response surface methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken design (BBD) to optimize the extraction process.
• To identify the key factors influencing azadirachtin yield and establish precise extraction parameters.

Main Methods:

• Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) combined with response surface methodology (RSM) using a Box-Behnken design (BBD).
• Factors investigated included magnetron voltage, extraction time, and pH of the hydroalcoholic medium.
• Statistical analysis, including ANOVA and Tukey's post hoc test, was used to evaluate the significance of factors and interactions.

Main Results:

• The study identified significant quadratic and interaction effects of voltage, extraction time, and pH on azadirachtin yield (p < 0.0001).
• Optimal extraction conditions were determined to be 69.22 V, 6.89 minutes, and a pH of 4.35.
• The optimized process achieved an azadirachtin yield of 37.5 μg per gram of pretreated neem seed.

Conclusions:

• The developed MAE-RSM method provides an optimized and efficient approach for azadirachtin extraction from neem seeds.
• The identified optimal conditions significantly enhance azadirachtin yield compared to conventional methods.
• This research contributes to the sustainable production of natural biopesticides from neem resources.