A metabolomics approach to evaluate the effect of lyophilization versus oven drying on the chemical composition of plant extracts

Abstract

Lyophilization is the “gold standard” for drying plant extracts, which is important in preserving their quality and extending their shelf-life. Compared to other methods of drying plant extracts, lyophilization is costlier due to equipment, material and operational expenses. An alternative method is post-extraction oven-drying, but the effects of this process on extract quality are unknown. In this study, crude extracts from Arthrocnemum macrostachyum shoots were compared using three post-extraction drying methods (lyophilization and oven drying at 40 and 60 °C) and two extraction solvents (water and aqueous 50% ethanol). Untargeted metabolomics coupled with chemometrics analysis revealed that post extraction oven-drying resulted in the loss of up to 27% of molecular features when compared to lyophilization in water extracts only. In contrast, only 3% of molecular features were lost in aqueous 50% ethanol extracts when subjected to oven drying. That is to say, ethanol used as a solvent has a stabilizing effect on metabolites and enhances their resistance to thermal transformation in the oven. Collectively, oven-drying of extracts was as effective as lyophilization in preserving metabolites in extracts only when 50% ethanol was used as a solvent. The results presented in this paper demonstrate the value of selecting solvent-appropriate post-extraction drying methods.

In vitro α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of Tamarix nilotica shoot extracts and fractions

“…The observed results suggest a difference in the composition of the two extracts with the molecules extracted with 50% EtOH being more resistant to thermal variations and therefore promising candidates for drug development. A similar finding was recently reported demonstrating that ethanol has a stabilizing effect on the abundance and resistance of phytochemicals to high temperatures [ 33 ]. The thermal stability of a drug is of high pharmaceutical importance as it is directly related to the pharmacological activity and the shelf-life of the product.…”

“…α-glucosidase from Saccharomyces cerevisiae , 4-nitrophenyl α-D-glucopyranoside (pNPG), p-nitrophenyl (pNP), and acarbose were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Missouri, USA). Fresh shoots of the plant were collected in Abu Dhabi, UAE, air-dried at 60 ˚C for 24 h, and ground into a fine powder using a coffee grinder (Moulinex AR110O27) before storage at 22 ˚C in airtight plastic bags [ 33 ]. Powdered biomass (3 g) was mixed with distilled water or 50% ethanol (100 mL) and the suspension (in a sealed container) was exposed to microwaves (AFMW205M, Aftron) for 3 cycles of 30, 10, and 5 s (231 W).…”

Combination of Ashwagandha Water Extract and Intermittent Fasting as a Therapy to Overcome Cisplatin Resistance in Breast Cancer: An in vitro and in vivo Study

“…The supernatants were recentrifuged (12,000 rpm, 10 min) ( 19 ). The supernatants were then dried in the oven at 50°C ( 20 ). The yield of the dried aqueous extract was 1.4 g ( Figure 1 ).…”

Tapping into Plant–Microbiome Interactions through the Lens of Multi-Omics Techniques

“…For instance, carbohydrates can be easily extracted in methanol–water, whereas lipids are best recovered in chloroform. Lastly, samples are desiccated in a sample concentrator, then reconstituted in the appropriate solvent, and if required, derivatized and injected into the instrument [ 124 , 125 ].…”