Abstract
In this study, phenolic compounds were extracted from Argel leaves using an ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method. The extraction parameters (sonication temperature, time, and ethanol concentration) were optimized using a response surface methodology (Box-Behnken design), in order to maximize the total phenolic content (TPC) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) scavenging activity of Argel leaf extracts (ALEs). The phenolic compounds of the ALEs obtained under optimized conditions were also identified. The optimum UAE conditions for achieving maximum TPC (72.27 g gallic acid equivalents kg
−1
DW) and DPPH scavenging activity (86.15%) were a 60 °C temperature, a 37.07 min duration, and a 39.14% ethanol concentration. Under these conditions, the experimental values of TPC and DPPH scavenging activity were 73.02 g GAE kg
−1
and 85.56%, respectively, which agreed with the predicted values. In addition, the major phenolic acids found in ALEs under the optimized extraction conditions were sinapic,
p
-coumaric, and ferulic acid. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrated the suitability of UAE and the success of RSM in optimizing the extraction conditions of bioactive compounds from ALEs.