Uncovering the Hidden Potential of Yerba Mate: A Fast and Green Method for Determining Total Chlorogenic Acids

Chlorogenic acids (CGAs) are antioxidants and have regulatory effects on human lipid and glucose metabolism. The separation, identification, individual, and total quantification of CGA isomers require the use of expensive techniques, such as high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode array detector and high-resolution mass spectrometry or tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-DAD-MS). Both instrumentation and analytical standards are expensive and unavailable in most laboratories. In this research, we developed a spectrophotometric method for the total quantification of CGA isomers in Ilex paraguariensis leaf and stick samples subjected to three extraction methods (water, water:ethanol, and water:methanol). The three extraction methods were validated by spectrophotometry (UV) and compared by HPLC-DAD-MS. The total quantification of chlorogenic acids did not show significant differences between the analytical methods. The spectrophotometric method proved to be simple, accurate, fast, economical, and environmentally friendly, suggesting a relevant alternative for the total quantification of CGA isomers in leaves and sticks of Ilex paraguariensis.