Bioactivity-guided systematic extraction and purification supported by multitechniques for sugarcane flavonoids and anthocyanins

• Ionic liquids solvents could extract flavonoids and anthocyanins simultaneously.
• Sugarcane tip was found with the highest antioxidant bioactivity.
• D141 macroporous resin offered the best adsorption and desorption performance.
• Pseudo-first-order kinetics model was favorable for illustrating adsorption process.
• Equilibrium experimental data were well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherms.

The application of ionic liquids (ILs) and macroporous resins for systematic separation of flavonoids and anthocyanins from Chinese sugarcane (Saccharum sinensis Roxb.) has been studied. The results show that the 0.8 M 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate aqueous solution ([C4MIM] [PF6]–water) has the highest yield among all the ILs and sugarcane tip is found with highest antioxidant bioactivity. D141 resin has the best adsorption and desorption performance for flavonoids and anthocyanins. And the pseudo-first-order kinetics model is the most favorable tool for illustrating the whole adsorption process. Furthermore, the equilibrium experimental data are well-fitted to the Langmuir isotherms. The values of ΔH, ΔG and ΔS suggest that the adsorption process is exothermic and the main driving force is hydrophobic interaction. Dynamic adsorption and desorption experiments prove that the flavonoids and anthocyanins can be completely eluted with the ethanol–water (70:30, v/v) of 5 BV and lower flow rate is more benefit to desorption process.