Microwave-assisted Green Extraction of Flavonoids: An Approach for the Development of Antiepileptic Agents

Herbal medicine has been used since ancient times for the treatment of various diseases and the improvement of human health. In research, the extraction process serves as a critical initial step for isolating and purifying key bioactive components from crude plant extracts. Despite its importance, the extraction stage often receives less attention and remains underexplored. In India, traditional techniques, such as maceration, Soxhlet extraction, steam distillation, and cold pressing, are still widely used for processing medicinal plants. However, these conventional methods suffer from limitations, including low selectivity, reduced yields, prolonged processing times, and significant environmental and safety concerns due to the extensive use of organic solvents. To address these challenges, innovative extraction techniques have emerged in recent years, offering greater efficiency, selectivity, and environmental sustainability. Notable advancements include Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE), Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SCFE), Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE), Subcritical Water Extraction (SWE), and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (USE). Among these, MAE has garnered significant attention for its potential to optimize extraction efficiency while minimizing resource consumption. This review provides a comprehensive comparison of different extraction methods, with a particular focus on the benefits of MAE. Furthermore, it explores the application of MAE-extracted flavonoids in the treatment of epilepsy, leveraging their proven ability to eliminate free radicals effectively. It also aims to highlight the advantages of adopting MAE in therapeutic contexts, offering novel insights into its role in enhancing the efficacy of flavonoid-based interventions. This work underscores the critical need for advancing extraction technologies to meet modern safety, environmental, and therapeutic demands.