Optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction of polyphenols from maize filaments by response surface methodology and its identification

Maize filaments (MF) are the outer thread-like part of corn, which are widely used in traditional and official medicine. In the current study, central composite design (CCD) was used to investigate the effect of process variables on polyphenols contents from MF by ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). Results showed that the obtained optimal UAE conditions were as follows: extraction power of 520.01 W, ethanol concentration of 61.08%, and a solvent-to-material ratio of 26.83 mL/g for polyphenols extraction. These experimental values under optimal conditions were consistent with the predicted values with polyphenols content of 7.1±0.015 mg/g. Sixteen phenolic compounds, including gallic acid, catechin, picatechin, hyperoside etc were identified in MF polyphenols extractions by HPLC-MS/MS method. The antioxidant activity of the MF polyphenols extractions were also studied, which showed that MF polyphenols extractions have excellent radical scavenging ability for ABTS radicals, •OH, DPPH radicals and •O2-, and 42.56 ± 1.24% of lipid oxidation inhibition.