Quality by Design approach for the investigation of critical characteristics of Phyllanthus emblica from different vicinities

[Objective]

To explore the application of Quality by Design (QbD) tools in assessing geographical variations of Phyllanthus emblica (P. emblica) from five distinct Indian states.

[Methods]

In the current experiment, the Box-Behnken design with a reduced quartic model and 105 runs was employed with the use of the Design Expert software for randomized response surface mapping. Three different extraction methods (Soxhlet, maceration, and sonication) along with three solventst [distilled water, methanol, and water-methanol mixture (50 : 50 v/v)] were considered in the present study. The anti-oxidant activities, total flavonoid content (TFC), and total phenolic content (TPC) in the P. emblica were determined and analysed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to identify the major components.

[Results]

The QbD overlay plot showed that the extractive value of the P. emblica was no less than 30% w/w, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) no less than 60% mcg/mL (micrograms per millilitre), TFC no less than 75 mg QE/g (milligrams of quercetin equivalents per gram), and TPC no less than 80 mg GAE/g (milligrams of gallic acid equivalents per gram). Moreover, the GC-MS data confirmed the presence of variation in the bioactives of P. emblica extracts.

[Conclusion]

The model was significant in describing the variation in extractive value, DPPH, TFC, and TPC. The QbD approach may tend to prioritize thoroughness in the extraction process, ultimately resulting in improved quality in the extracted products.