RP-HPLC-PDA-ESI-MS/MS screening of bioactive compounds from Degla-Beida dates: Conventional and green extraction technologies

Date fruits have vital therapeutic properties, in the way that they represent an inexhaustible source of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols. Therefore, the objective of this work was to evaluate the phytocomposition by High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC-PAD-ESI-MS/MS) of the optimized microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) phenolic extract by using the response surface methodology (RSM) compared to the ultrasound-assisted and conventional extractions (UAE and CE), and to test its antioxidant activity in vitro. The resulting regression model indicated that a quadratic polynomial model was best suited for the spectrophotometrically determined total phenolics. The maximum total phenolic content, TPC, (4.27±0.09 mg GAE/g DW) was obtained with a 50% (v/v) ethanol’s concentration, a 700 W microwave power and an extraction time of 2.42 minutes. HPLC analysis revealed the presence of organic sugars and acids, nucleoside, carotenoids, proanthocyanidins, lignans, flavonols, flavones, saponin and sterol glucosides. The MAE phenolic extract showed 58.72±0.29% DPPH radical scavenging activity and a 1.88±0.09 mg AscAE/mL reducing power