Optimization of Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil extraction based on response surface methodology and machine...

Area of Science:

• Food Science
• Natural Product Chemistry
• Chemical Engineering

Background:

• Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil is recognized for its potential bioactivities.
• Optimizing extraction methods is crucial for maximizing yield and preserving active compounds.
• Traditional methods often lack efficiency and require refinement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the steam distillation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) and machine learning (ML).
• To evaluate the antimicrobial and antioxidant properties of the extracted essential oil.
• To identify the major chemical constituents of the optimized essential oil.

Main Methods:

• Steam distillation coupled with Response Surface Methodology (RSM) for process optimization.
• Application of Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and Random Forest models for predicting optimal extraction conditions.
• Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) for chemical composition analysis.
• Antimicrobial assays against S. aureus and E. coli.
• Antioxidant activity tests including ABTS, DPPH, and hydroxyl radical scavenging assays, and ferric ion reducing power determination.

Main Results:

• Optimized conditions using RSM yielded 2.92% essential oil.
• ANN and Random Forest models predicted higher yields (3.06% and 2.74%, respectively) under their respective optimal conditions.
• Major components identified were γ-terpinene (14.73%), 3-carene (14.17%), and linalool (13.57%).
• The essential oil demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and E. coli.
• High antioxidant capacity was observed, with ABTS⁺ radical scavenging at 92.81% (40 mg/mL) and DPPH radical scavenging at 94.57% (80 mg/mL).

Conclusions:

• The study successfully optimized Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil extraction using RSM and ML techniques.
• The extracted essential oil possesses significant antimicrobial and antioxidant properties.
• Zanthoxylum bungeanum essential oil is a promising candidate for natural antibacterial and antioxidant applications.