APPLICATION OF DEEP EUTECTIC SOLVENTS FOR EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM MYRTUS COMMUNIS L. LEAVES: ASSESSING TOTAL PHENOLICS, ANTIOXIDANT ACTIVITY, AND PROCESS SUSTAINABILITY

In this study, a green extraction method for extracting bioactive chemicals from Myrtus communis L. leaves was explored. Seven selected Choline chloride (ChCl)-based deep eutectic solvents (ChCl: Ethylene glycol, ChCl: Diethylene glycol, ChCl: Triethylene glycol, ChCl: Oxalic acid, ChCl: Lactic acid, ChCl: Glycerol, ChCl: Urea) were utilized as extraction medium and compared with traditional solvents, specifically methanol, ethanol, and ethyl acetate. The extracts were assessed for total phenolicc content (TPC) and radical scavenging activity (RSA). In terms of TPC, methanol produced the highest value, closely followed by ChCl:Triethylene glycol. In terms of RSA, ChCl:Oxalic acid had the highest antioxidant activity, followed by ChCl:Ethylene glycol. Additionally, the proposed green approach was evaluated with AGREEprep metrics. The results of the study validated that it was in line with the fundamentals of green chemistry and achieving a score of 0.79 for the present approach in contrast to 0.37 for the conventional approach. Overall, this study revealed a green and promising method for extracting considerable amounts of antioxidative phenolic compounds from Myrtus communis L. leaves