Extraction of Triterpene Compounds From <i>Hancornia speciosa</i> Gomes Fruits and Evaluation of Pharmacological Potential

Hancornia speciosa Gomes, a Brazilian native species, holds biotechnological potential due to compounds such as lupeol, α-amyrin, and β-amyrin, which possess pharmacological properties. This study investigates triterpene-rich extracts from H. speciosa fruit for potential anti-inflammatory applications. Extraction was performed using the energized-guided dispersive extraction (EDGE) method and compared to ultrasound extraction techniques to evaluate efficiency and yield. The EDGE system demonstrated notable advantages over ultrasound extraction, including a 60 mL reduction in solvent volume and an 87-min decrease in extraction time, enhancing efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and sustainability. The EDGE extraction successfully obtained a triterpene-rich extract from H. speciosa Gomes with a concentration of lupeol (50.09 ± 1.29 mg/g) with no significant difference when compared to the extract obtained by ultrasound (49.95 ± 2.54 mg/g). The extract showed no cytotoxicity and irritation in the hen's egg test-chorioallantoic membrane assay and significantly reduced reactive oxygen species produced by neutrophils. These results indicate the extract's phytotherapeutic potential, suggesting new possibilities for future studies and therapeutic applications, and highlight EDGE as a promising technique for phytotherapeutic applications.