Optimized Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Psidium laruotteanum Roots: A Concentrated Source of Piceid from the Brazilian Savanna

Psidium laruotteanum is a subshrub Myrtaceae, native to the Brazilian savanna, and distributed in Central and South America. Here, the health beneficial compound piceid (reservatrol-3 beta-mono-D-glucoside) is described for the first time in the genus Psidium. The ultrasound-assisted extraction from P. laruotteanum roots was optimized by a response surface methodology. A central composite design was used to assess six extraction variables. Optimal extractions were obtained with 62.5% MeOH in water at 69.1 C-circle, amplitude of 70%, cycle of 0.5 s(-1), pH 5.7 and solvent-solid ratio of 40:1, for 10 min. The method showed excellent recovery (90%-95%) and precision (CV: 0.69% for repeatability and 0.43% for intermediate precision). This species appears as the most concentrated plant source of piceid reported to date (29.15 mg center dot g (-1) in dry roots). Additionally, a very fast extraction (5 min) can afford 96% recovery of piceid from Psidium laruotteanum roots. It could be used as a natural and cheap source of piceid for several applications.