Abstract
The chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) root is an agricultural by-product with the potential for extracting valuable bioactive compounds that often remains underutilized. This study introduces an integrated extraction methodology to enhance the extraction of bioactives using atmospheric air low-pressure cold plasma (CP) treatment followed by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) with natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES). Chickpea root powder was first subjected to CP treatment under optimized conditions (power, pressure, and time) identified via response surface methodology (RSM). Subsequently, UAE-NADES extraction was performed to maximize the results of antioxidant activity (DPPH) and total phenolic content (TPC). The integrated CP-UAE-NADES process enhanced TPC and DPPH compared to the untreated sample (non-CP). The optimum conditions were 11.5 min, 52 W, and 0.65 mbar. The predicted values of the Box-Behnken design for TPC and DPPH were compatible with the experimental Furthermore, microbial load reduction and color stability were analyzed to ensure chickpea root quality and functionality. The combined extraction methodology offers a sustainable and eco-friendly approach for the valorization of chickpea root as a source of bioactives, with potential applications in functional foods, nutraceuticals, and pharmaceuticals.