Life Cycle Assessment of the Optimized Extraction Process from Artocarpus altilis Leaves

Maximizing the extraction efficiency of bioactive compounds from botanical matrices must inherently align with environmental sustainability. This study evaluates the ecological profile of a previously established, optimized ultrasound-assisted extraction process for Artocarpus altilis leaves, designated as the A. altilis extraction process (AAEP) using a gate-to-gate Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Executed via openLCA software and the ILCD 2011 Midpoint+ method, the assessment quantified 15 impact categories. Results indicated that while grid electricity and the ethanol supply chain drove climate change (2.59E-01 kg CO2 eq) and freshwater ecotoxicity (9.92E-02 CTUe), the overall environmental burdens remained remarkably low. Normalized and weighted analyses pinpointed human toxicity (cancer effects), photochemical ozone formation, and water resource depletion as the primary hotspots; however, their absolute magnitudes were infinitesimal (below the 10-4 threshold). By completely eliminating hazardous organic solvents, the AAEP strictly adheres to Green Chemistry principles and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs 3 and 12), establishing a highly benign, eco-friendly framework for the greener valorization of natural products.