Homogenate-assisted negative pressure cavitation extraction of active compounds from Pyrola incarnata Fisch. and the extraction kinetics study

• A new type of extraction method (HNPCE) was investigated.
• HNPCE method was effective and environmental friendly.
• Active compounds of Pyrola incarnata Fisch. were extracted by HNPCE.
• The kinetics of HNPCE process was investigated for the first time.
• The antioxidant capacity of HNPCE extract was almost comparable to that of VC.

A new extraction method, homogenate-assisted negative pressure cavitation extraction, was designed to extract the main active compounds from Pyrola incarnata Fisch. The influential parameters were optimized by single factor experiments and extraction kinetics. Optimal conditions were set as follows: homogenate time of 120 s, negative pressure of − 0.05 MPa, liquid/solid ratio of 30:1 mL/g, ethanol concentration at 60%, extraction temperature of 50 °C and extraction time of 25 min. Maximum extraction yields of hyperin, 2″-O-galloylhyperin and chimaphilin reached 1.205 ± 0.054, 4.961 ± 0.108 and 0.291 ± 0.016 mg/g, respectively. Furthermore, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assay was used to assess the antioxidant activity of the extracts. HNPCE extract had the best antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 0.144 ± 0.017 mg/mL. The present results showed that HNPCE could be a promising extraction technique used in the extraction of active compounds from plants.Industrial relevanceIn this work we showed a new extraction method, homogenate-assisted negative pressure cavitation extraction. This novel extraction technique also processes the advantages of potential eco-friendly technology, lower energy consumption, easy operation, shorter time and higher efficiency. It is promising for extensive industry applications in the nature product extraction fields. The results may provide valuable data for industrial scale-up applications.