Ultrasonic extraction of flavonoids and phenolics from loquat (<i>Eriobotrya japonica</i> Lindl.) flowers

Abstract

Ethanol was used to extract flavonoids and phenolics from loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl. cv. Ruantiaobaisha) flowers with ultrasonic pharmaceutical managing machine. Single-factor and orthogonal experiment were used to investigate the optimum extraction condition. The results showed that, the combination of 30°C, 80 min, 60% ethanol and 1:40 material ratio was optimum extraction condition with the highest yields of flavonoids and phenolics at 47 kHz/500 W. Under the optimum extraction condition, two consecutive extractions was enough, the extraction rates of flavonoids and phenolics were all more than 90%, with the contents of 10.59 and 102.02 mg/g dry weight, respectively.

Key words: Eriobotrya japonica, flower, flavonoids, phenolics, ultrasonic extraction.