THE EFFECT OF TEMPERATURE, EXTRACTION TIME, AND SOLVENTS ON THE EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM GALACTOGENIC PLANTS USED IN THE REPUBLIC OF BENIN

Optimizing extraction processes is essential to ensuring the quality and efficacy of active ingredients intended for therapeutic and nutraceutical uses. This study aims to analyze the influence of temperature, extraction time, and solvent type on the extraction of compounds with galactogenic potential, in order to identify the most favorable conditions for their valorization. The study focused on three medicinal plants known for their galactogenic properties: Carica papaya L., Momordica charantia L., and Vernonia amygdalina Del. Extracts were obtained by maceration, infusion, and decoction. A qualitative phytochemical analysis, based on precipitation and color tests, revealed different groups of secondary metabolites. The total flavonoid content was determined using the aluminum trichloride (AlCl₃) method, while the total polyphenol content was determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Tannin content was determined using the vanillin method. Extraction yields ranged from 5% to 28.33%. Analyses revealed the presence of alkaloids, tannins, and polyphenols, associated with potential galactogenic activities, as well as anthocyanins, saponins, triterpenoids, steroids, and coumarins. Polyphenol levels ranged from 2.10 to 922.65 mg GAE/g, flavonoid levels from 161.13 to 345.02 mg QE/g, and tannin levels from 140.00 to 443.66 mg CE/g extract. Among the techniques evaluated, maceration proved to be the most effective at concentrating bioactive compounds, although it exhibited a low extraction yield. These results highlight the pharmacological potential of these plant species to support lactation, provided that extraction parameters are rigorously optimized to maximize their bioavailability and efficacy.