Advancing green chemistry through ultrasound-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Moringa oleifera using response surface methodology

Moringa oleifera is widely recognized for its rich content of bioactive compounds, particularly flavonoids, which possess strong antioxidant properties beneficial for health and functional applications. Efficient extraction of these compounds is essential to support their industrial utilization. In this study, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) was optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with Central Composite Design (CCD) to maximize the flavonoid yield from Moringa oleifera leaves. The effects of extraction temperature, time, and solvent-to-solid ratio were evaluated to identify optimal conditions. The optimal parameters. 30°C, 60 min, and a 20:1 solvent-to-solid ratio, resulted in a total flavonoid content of 378.06 mg QE/g, closely matching the predicted value of 379.82 mg QE/g, thus validating the robustness of the RSM-CCD model. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis of the spray-dried extract revealed dense, non-porous microparticles with irregular shapes and clustered surfaces. These structural characteristics suggest potential applications in food application and biodegradable films and coatings, though they may limit usage in controlled-release formulations. Compared to other plant sources and extraction methods, the optimized UAE approach produced superior flavonoid yields, confirming its efficiency and relevance for scalable functional material development.