Comparative study on optimization of NADES extraction process by dual models and antioxidant activity of optimum extraction from Chuanxiong-Honghua

The natural deep eutectic solvent (NADES) was used as the extraction solvent to extract the four ingredients from Chuanxiong-Honghua. NADES-7 composed of L-proline and lactic acid (1:2) has a better extraction effect compared with traditional solvents. The extraction process was optimized using response surface methodology (RSM) and ant colony algorithm-enabled backpropagation neural network (ACO-BPNN), which were compared with each other. ACO-BPNN has a higher R2 and predictive value than RSM. The optimal process parameters predicted by the ACO-BPNN were determined to be as follows: solvent-to-material ratio, 8 mL/g; extraction time, 67 min; water concentration, 48%; and extraction temperature, 50 degrees C. The best predicted comprehensive evaluation value was 4.2634, and the mean value obtained from the experiment was 3.8678. Compared with traditional solvents, the antioxidant activity of NADES-7 extract was better, and the mean value of DPPH, FRAP (ferric reducing antioxidant power), and ABTS assays were 0.1555, 0.1132, and 0.0894 mmol Trolox/g dry weight, respectively. Experimental results show that ACO-BPNN can better optimize the extraction process of many different polar compounds in plant combinations.