A Comprehensive Review on Deep Eutectic Solvents and Its Use to Extract Bioactive Compounds of Pharmaceutical Interest

Abstract

The extraction of bioactive compounds of pharmaceutical interest from natural sources has been significantly explored in recent decades. However, the extraction techniques used were not very efficient in terms of time and energy consumption; additionally, the solvents used for the extraction were harmful for the environment. To improve the environmental impact of the extractions and at the same time increase the extraction yields, several new extraction techniques were developed. Among the most used ones are ultrasound-assisted extraction and microwave-assisted extraction. These extraction techniques increased the yield and selectivity of the extraction in a smaller amount of time with a decrease in energy consumption. Nevertheless, a high volume of organic solvents was still used for the extraction, causing a subsequent environmental problem. Neoteric solvents appeared as green alternatives to organic solvents. Among the neoteric solvents, deep eutectic solvents were evidenced to be one of the best alternatives to organic solvents due to their intrinsic characteristics. These solvents are considered green solvents because they are made up of natural compounds such as sugars, amino acids, and carboxylic acids having low toxicity and high degradability. In addition, they are simple to prepare, with an atomic economy of 100%, with attractive physicochemical properties. Furthermore, the huge number of compounds that can be used to synthesize these solvents make them very useful in the extraction of bioactive compounds since they can be tailored to be selective towards a specific component or class of components. The main aim of this paper is to give a comprehensive review which describes the main properties, characteristics, and production methods of deep eutectic solvents as well as its application to extract from natural sources bioactive compounds with pharmaceutical interest. Additionally, an overview of the more recent and sustainable extraction techniques is also given.

The Effects of Selected Extraction Methods and Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents on the Recovery of Active Principles from Aralia elata var. mandshurica (Rupr. & Maxim.) J. Wen: A Non-Targeted Metabolomics Approach

“…Thus, another possible explanation might be the different physicochemical properties of solvents, such as polarity, viscosity, pH, etc. [ 33 ].…”

“…Thus, another possible explanation might be the different physicochemical properties of solvents, such as polarity, viscosity, pH, etc. [33]. The clear group separation in the score plots (Figures 2A, 3A and 4A) and their distinctly separate clusterization in the corresponding heat maps (Figures 2B, 3B and 4B) indicated that different individual metabolites were more abundant when different solvents and extraction methods were used.…”

Avaliação De Modelo Didático Sobre a Herança Da Anemia Falciforme No Ensino De Genética

“…Thus, the aim of the present chapter is to show the advantages of DES use for the extraction of plant proteins and expose some benefits in the purification of these biomolecules, as well as to argue the opportunity areas and challenges to overcome their large-scale application. Ferreira & Sarraguça (2024) report that the selection of the ideal solvent for protein extraction not only has to be focused on obtaining the molecules of interest but also must be a sustainable, biodegradable, and innocuous compound with no negative impact on both the environment and human health. The only solvent that possesses these characteristics is water, however, it cannot be used for all types of extractions, since it does not dissolve hydrophobic compounds due to its high dielectric constant, hence the use of solvents that, at least decrease this environmental impact and are more biodegradable must follow some of the 12 principles of green chemistry (Ferreira & Sarraguça, 2024).…”

“…Ferreira & Sarraguça (2024) report that the selection of the ideal solvent for protein extraction not only has to be focused on obtaining the molecules of interest but also must be a sustainable, biodegradable, and innocuous compound with no negative impact on both the environment and human health. The only solvent that possesses these characteristics is water, however, it cannot be used for all types of extractions, since it does not dissolve hydrophobic compounds due to its high dielectric constant, hence the use of solvents that, at least decrease this environmental impact and are more biodegradable must follow some of the 12 principles of green chemistry (Ferreira & Sarraguça, 2024). It has been demonstrated that DES are more effective for protein extraction than classical organic solvents and, in addition the extraction efficiency is higher; DES have shown higher selectivity (Molnar et al, 2024).…”

Development of a Ready-to-Use Oxyresveratrol-Enriched Extract from Artocarpus lakoocha Roxb. Using Greener Solvents and Deep Eutectic Solvents for a Whitening Agent

“…A mixture of two or more pure chemicals that, when mixed in the appropriate ratio, results in a eutectic mixture that deviates from ideal thermodynamic behavior is known as a DES. There are strong interactions between the initial components that function as hydrogen bond donors (HBDs), such as citric acid and malic acid, and hydrogen bond acceptors (HBAs), such as choline chloride and betaine [22]. DESs have been proven to have a wide range of applications, including synthesis, extraction, biocatalysis, nanomaterials, biotechnology, electrochemistry, food, cosmetics, drugs, and biofuel [23].…”