Ultrasonic Extracts of Morinda citrifolia L.: Characterization of Volatile Compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Abstract

Morinda citrifolia (noni) is found in the Atlantic and Amazonian Forest in Brazil and with recognized uses in folk medicine. However, few studies exist in its chemical characterization. The present work aims to investigate the efficiency of the sonication for extracting bioactive compounds from fruits and leaves of noni, using an experimental design of 2 3 , whose variables were time, temperature and mass of the plant. Parallel extractions were performed using two extraction solvents (hexane and ethanol) and the same experimental design. The compounds were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The independent variable was the mass yield and all the variables studied in the sonication process were significant (p < 0.05%) for the process. Ethanol was more effective than hexane and the leaves produced higher yield and diversity of compounds than fruits. Vitamin E (tocopherol), octanoic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, phytol and squalene were the main compounds identified. Keywords: Morinda citrifolia L., sonication, gas chromatography, GC-MS, tocopherols IntroductionMorinda citrifolia Linn. (noni) is natural from Hawaii and Tahiti and belongs to the Rubiacea Juss. family. Noni has a pantropical distribution and a capacity of growth in several kinds of soils and in all seasons.1,2 More than 160 phytochemical compounds were already described as constituents of noni extracts (by maceration and Soxhlet). [1][2][3][4] Phytochemical compounds are normally present in plants as secondary metabolites and they are responsible for plants growth and protection against oxidation and plagues. 5 Many methodologies have been developed worldwide for characterizing different natural compounds aiming to identify and quantify the bioactive ones, indicating their application in food or phytomedicine. [6][7][8] The amount and quality of extracts are strongly associated to the extraction technique applied. Sonication, or ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), is a physical procedure that uses the energy of ultrasound waves for producing variations on the liquid pressure, generating the cavitation process and promoting the extraction.9 UAE is one of the most efficient extraction techniques due to its intense interaction between solid (plant) and liquid (solvent) phases. [8][9][10][11] Sonication has some advantages over other extraction techniques such as the low cost, simplicity, efficiency, reproducibility and the applicability for a high range of samples. 8,[10][11][12] The implosion of bubbles generated by cavitation releases heat and increases turbulence on the liquid, causing the disruption of the plant cells, allowing the diffusion of the solvent into the matrix. Therefore, this process increases the solubility of the analytes, which will also enhance the Lima et al. 133 Vol. 30, No. 1, 2019 extraction efficiency. 13,14 The extracts are normally analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). 8,15 Among the phytotherapeutic effects of noni, it is possible to highlight the anti-inflammatory, ana...

Ethnobotanical use of Morinda citrifolia: a literature review

“…Andrada et al (2007) found abdominal pain, vomiting, and nausea in a patient who had ingested noni, requiring further clinical studies. Lima et al (2019), cited the herbal effects of noni, showing anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and diuretic activities, in addition to vitamin C and E in large amounts that are similar to those of acerola and papaya. Also, they mentioned some acids such as octanoic, decanoic, ursolic, linoleic.…”

Extratos Bioativos a Partir Das Cascas De Noni

“…Estes autores obtiveram valores máximos nos extratos em acetona da polpa (109,81 mg/100g de amostra), casca (76,01 mg/100g) e sementes (28,75 mg/100g) e todos os extratos avaliados apresentaram atividade antioxidante in vitro. Lima et al (2019) obtiveram extratos em etanol e hexano de folhas e fruto do noni coletados em São Cristóvão (Sergipe) utilizando a técnica de ultrassom. O etanol foi o solvente mais eficiente e as folhas demonstraram maior diversidade e quantidade de compostos do que o fruto.…”

“…: 10.7198/S2318-3403201900010930 antioxidante, anti-inflamatório, cicatrização de feridas, efeitos anticancerígenos, ansiolítico, cardiovascular e funções de estimulação imunológico (SHALAN et al, 2017). Além disso, o noni contém vitaminas C e E em quantidades semelhantes a mamão, acerola, caju e abacaxi (LIMA et al, 2019). Dentro da mesma espécie de planta, a composição dos fitoquímicos pode variar com a composição dos nutrientes do solo, clima, estação, fase de desenvolvimento da planta, associação natural com outras plantas, armazenamento de materiais e os tipos de métodos de processamento, tais como procedimentos de secagem e extração (ANITHA et al, 2018).…”