Abstract
The influence of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phytochemicals from Ardisia compressa Kunth on the antioxidant capacity was investigated. The factors evaluated were: ultrasound extraction time (10, 20 and 30 min), ethanol concentration (0, 35, 70 %) and solid/liquid ratio (1:4, 1:8 and 1:12 g mL-1). The L9 (3)3 array was applied, and the DPPH• scavenging capacity of treatments was evaluated to obtain optimal extraction conditions. Finally, the phytochemicals were characterized by high-performance liquid chromatography electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS). Ten minutes of ultrasound extraction using 0 % of ethanol and solid/liquid ratio 1:12 g mL-1 were the optimal conditions of extraction. The HPLC-ESI-MS analysis revealed the presence of gluconic acid, quercetin-3-O-glucoside, isorhamnetin-3-O-rutinoside, demethylligstroside, ponicidin, 4-caffeoylquinic acid, rosmarinic acid, and galloyl-hexoside. The optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction conditions were defined by applying the Taguchi methodology. The phytochemicals identified in A. compressa fruits suggest its use as a potential source of bioactive compounds.