RESUMEN
Hedera helix L. contains phytochemicals with good biological properties which are beneficial to human health and can be used to protect plants against different diseases. The aim of this research was to find the most suitable extraction method and the most favorable parameters for the extraction of different bioactive compounds from ivy leaves. Different extraction methods, namely microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and conventional heating extraction (CHE), were used. The most suitable method for the extraction of saponins is MAE with an extraction efficiency of 58%, while for carbohydrates and polyphenols, the best results were achieved via UAE with an extraction efficiency of 61.7% and 63.5%, respectively. The antioxidant activity (AA) of the extracts was also determined. The highest AA was obtained via UAE (368.98 ± 9.01 µmol TR/gDM). Better results were achieved at 50 °C for 10 min of extraction, using 80% ethanol in water as solvent. In order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity, the extracts richest in bioactive compounds were tested on NCTC fibroblasts. Their influence on the DNA content of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was also tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the extracts obtained via UAE and MAE were cytocompatible with NCTC fibroblasts at 48 h of treatment. Summarizing the above, both MAE and UAE can be employed as green and efficient methods for producing extracts rich in bioactive compounds, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties and good noncytotoxic activity.
RESUMEN
The aim of this study was to establish the best ultrasound assisted extraction (UAE) conditions of saponins from Hedera helix L. leaves and to evaluate the in vitro biocompatibility of the extracts richest in saponins. Different parameters, such as extraction time, temperature, ultrasound power, solvent to plant material ratio, and solvent concentration, were investigated. The most efficient extraction conditions were a temperature of 50 °C, an ultrasound amplitude of 40%, an extraction time of 60 min, a plant material to solvent ratio of 1:20 (w:v), and 80% ethanol as solvent. In vitro cytotoxicity of the extracts richest in saponins and their influence on the DNA content of L929 (NCTC) fibroblasts were tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the studied extracts were cytocompatible with L929 fibroblast cell lines at 48 h of treatment. These in vitro cell culture results provide useful information for further applications of Hedera helix extracts in a pharmaceutical field.
