Feasibility of Hydroethanolic Solvent System for Bioactive Compounds Recovery from Aerial Parts of Silybum marianum and Kinetics Modeling

Background: Silybum marianum is considered as one of the valuable medicinal plants. This study focused on maximum recovery of total extractable compounds (TEC), antiradical capacity (AC), and silybin content as a major phenolic compound using hydroethanolic solvent system (HSS). Methods: The HSS consisted of different ratios of ethanol (EtOH) and water (H_2O). The AC was determined using spectrophotometric analysis. Highperformance liquid chromatography was used for analyzing the silybin content. The cells morphology and the mass transfer kinetics were investigated using scanning electron microscope and Peleg model respectively. Results: Based on the results, the highest TEC (154.60 ± 2.4 mg/g), AC (39.19 ± 0.30 of % DPPHsc and 28.15 ± 0.51 of % OHsc), and silybin (4400 ± 33.00 mg/ kg) were obtained using HSS (80%v/v of EtOH). Moreover, high correlation was found between AC and silybin content. Mass transfer kinetics was successfully explained using Peleg model (R2 = 0.9970, RMSE = 2.274, and E = 1.22%). Further, intense cellular disruption during HSS caused accelerated release of bioactive compounds. Conclusion: The HSS composed of 80% v/v of EtOH was found as an efficient system for successful recovery of bioactives which could be introduced as a natural ingredient for food and pharmaceuticals industries.