مشخصات پژوهش

tThis study designed to conduction an investigation into the effect of low-voltage electric field (EF) on thephenolic acids extraction from plant materials. In this regards, Nepeta racemosa was selected to study asa source of phenolic acids. The EF extracted phenolic acids amounts were compared with ultrasound-assisted and maceration extractions. Suitable extraction condition was optimized for ultrasound-assistedextraction. The EF method was optimized for voltage (40, 50 and 60 V) and electrodes gap (1, 1.5, 2 and2.5 cm). Phenolic acid amounts and antioxidant activity of extracts were investigated by HPLC and DPPHradical methods, respectively. The optimal condition for EF method extraction of total studied phenolicacids amount was obtained 2.5 cm of electrodes gap and 40 V for applied voltage. The results showed aconsiderable increasing in total phenolic acid amounts and antioxidant activity for EF comparison withother methods. Total phenolic acid amount and antioxidant activity of maceration, ultrasound-assistedand EF extraction methods were obtained as 3.58, 7.57, 19.88 mg/g dw of plant and IC50 values of 110.77,81.44, 43.74 g/mL, respectively. Based on obtained results, EF extraction method caused to increase ofphenolic acids amounts 3–4 times and antioxidant activity 2–3 times rather that other methods. Thefindings for Nepeta racemosa extract suggest application of electric field extraction method for food andindustrial purposes because of increasing bioactive compounds recovery and decreasing of time and cost.