Development of an efficient extraction and enrichment method for total flavonoids compounds from Erigeron breviscapus using ultrasound-assisted extraction and macroporous resin adsorption

Erigeron breviscapus, a medicinal plant rich in flavonoids with diverse pharmacological properties is an important resource. To maximize the utilization of these valuable bioactive compounds, ultrasound-assisted extraction combined with response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions for total flavonoids. After comparing six macroporous resins’ adsorption and desorption characteristics, AB-8 was selected for enriching total flavonoids, and its adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were investigated. The following parameters were chosen as optimal for the dynamic adsorption/desorption experiments using an AB-8 filled column: sample loading concentration of 1.14 mg/mL, sample loading flow rate of 2 BV/h, elution solvent of 70% ethanol, desorption flow rate of 1 BV/h, elution solvent volume of 5.5 BV, pH of 2, temperature of 25 °C. After enrichment, the concentration of flavonoids was 5.16 times higher than that of crude extract. LC-MS identified 54 flavonoid molecules with excellent antioxidant properties.