Comparison of different methods for extracting polyphenols from Ipomoea batatas leaves, and identification of antioxidant constituents by HPLC-QTOF-MS2

Abstract This study aimed to compare the extraction efficiency of dynamic high pressure microfluidization-assisted extraction (DHPMAE) and other commonly used extraction methods on the antioxidant activities (AAs) of sweet potato leaves (Ipomoea batatas L., SPL), and to identify the antioxidant compounds by HPLC-QTOF-MS2. Two highly consumed commercial varieties, orange-fleshed and cream-fleshed sweet potato leaves (OFL and CFL), were taken as materials. OFL was evidenced to be a better antioxidants resource than CFL due to higher polyphenols and AAs. DHPMAE had the best extraction efficiency on total phenolics and total flavonoids, with the values in OFL extract at 16.35 mg GAE/g DM and 16.51 mg RE/g DM, respectively. DHPMAE extract also exhibited the strongest DPPH· and ABTS·+ scavenging ability, chelating ability and reducing power. Multiple regression analysis revealed that polyphenols played an important contribution to the AAs of SPL extracts. After successive fractionation of DHPMAE extract by chloroform, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, the ethyl acetate fraction showed the highest total phenolic (569.38 mg GAE/g Extract) and total flavonoid (43.15 mg RE/g Extract) content, as well as the highest AAs. HPLC-QTOF-MS2 analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction resulted in identifying 37 compounds including 20 phenolic acids, 12 flavonoids, 3 organic acids, 1 nucleoside and 1 ester, and 20 of them were firstly detected in SPL. Caffeoylquinic acid derivatives and flavonoids were the most abundant antioxidant compounds. The presented results suggested that DHPM might be a promising assisted technology in extracting polyphenols from plants, and SPL could be utilized for the development of functional food.