Extraction Process of O-Coumaric Acid from Gliricidia Sepium Leaves: Optimization and Kinetic Studies

Extraction and product recovery are among the most significant processes for assessing valuable active chemicals from distinct plant sections. This study explores the potential of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method to optimize the o-coumaric acid extraction from Gliricidia sepium leaves, with the goal of shifting conventional extraction method. Response surface methodology was applied to observe interaction of three independent variables (ratio of solvent to solid, extraction temperature and extraction time) on the dependent variable (yield of o- coumaric acid) for optimal extraction conditions. This research reveals that the optimal conditions for the extraction of o-coumaric acid were established at 80% (v/v) methanol with optimum level of extraction temperature (45°C), extraction time (46.60 min) and ratio of solvent to solid (10:1 mL g-1) resulted to o-coumaric acid yield of 36.14 ± 0.015 mg L-1. The reduction in particle size distribution through UAE led to a notable increase in the surface area of solid materials, consequently enhancing mass transfer and extraction yield. This approach yielded a remarkable 62% higher o-coumaric acid yield (1148.2 mg g-1) compared to conventional Soxhlet extraction (435.02 mg g-1). Additionally, o-coumaric compound was confirmed through HPLC at a retention time of 2.78 minutes and successfully analyzed via FTIR. This study not only establishes optimal conditions for o-coumaric acid extraction but also highlights UAE as a transformative technique for sustainable and high-yield recovery of bioactive components from plants, paving the way for advancements in bioresource utilization and eco-friendly extraction methodologies.