Analysis of chemical composition of Acanthopanax Senticosus leaves applying high-pressure microwave-assisted extraction

Flavonoids and saponins have been extracted from Acanthopanax Senticosus leaves applying high-pressure microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The influence of experimental conditions, such as concentration of ethanol in the eluent, microwave irradiation time, processing pressure, etc., on the extraction yield has been studied. The results were compared to those obtained applying Soxhlet extraction (SE). Optimum conditions for MAE procedure were established; for flavonoids: concentration of ethanol 50%, pressure 700 kPa, microwave irradiation time 10 min; for saponin: 70%, 700 kPa, and 4 min, respectively. The results of electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) experiments have confirmed that compounds (first peaks in chromatogram) are the same for both MAE and SE. However, compared to SE, MAE is more advantageous in respect of extraction time and solvent consumption, as well as extraction yield and selectivity.