Analysis and Quantification of Larrea tridentata Polyphenols Obtained by Reflux and Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

Ultrasound-assisted extraction was evaluated as a simpler and more effective alternative to conventional extraction methods for the isolation of polyphenols from leaves of gobernadora (Larrea tridentata Cov.). The gobernadora samples were extracted with water and ethanol, under conditions of sonication. The ultrasonic extraction was compared with the conventional method of refluxing boiling solvents in a Soxhlet extractor, 98on the yields of both the total polyphenols recovered and identified by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry. Other parameters quantified were hydrolyzable tannins, condensed tannins, and percentage of antioxidant activity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl). It was found an increment of both condensed and hydrolyzable tannins with an increase of ethanol concentration with a low ultrasound-assisted extraction is an excellent alternative for recovery of polyphenols of gobernadora. The increase in the ethanol concentration is proportional to the increase of the hydrolyzable polyphenols and condensed tannins. Analysis of High performance liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (HPLC/MS) allowed to identify 10 mass corresponding to compounds as coumaric acid, catechins, and lignans were identified. The most important compounds found was nordihydroguaiaretic acid.