Comparative Analysis of Soxhlet and Ultrasound-assisted Extraction of Bioactive Components from Fig Leaves (lat. Ficus carica): Impact of the Method on Extraction Yield and Latex Preservation

This research investigates the efficiency of two methods for extracting bioactive compounds from fig leaves (Ficus carica) using different solvents. Dried fig leaves were used as extraction material. The focus is on Soxhlet extraction and Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) methods. Also, two different solvents, methanol and ethanol, were used for extractions. Given that the enzyme ficin is one of the significant bioactive compounds in fig leaf latex, the aim was to explore and determine which method and solvent gives a higher extraction yield and better preservation of thermolabile components such as this enzyme. The results show that Soxhlet extraction provides a higher total extract yield and requires a longer extraction time. In this study, the highest yields of 12.3% were obtained using the methanol solvent using the Soxhlet method compared to ultrasonic extraction which showed a lower yield of 6.4%. In contrast to that, ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) yields a higher-quality extract in a shorter extraction time. However, due to the high temperatures required for Soxhlet extraction, denaturation of ficin occurs, which leads to the formation of a dry extract without the presence of this enzyme. Ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method does not require high temperatures, which enables the preservation of ficin and the formation of a mucilaginous extract due to the presence of enzymes. Due to the temperature sensitivity of bioactive compounds, the choice of extraction method significantly affects the stability and quality of the final extract.