Dienzyme-assisted salting-out extraction of flavonoids from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam.

Highlights • Dienzyme-assisted salting-out extraction of flavonoids from the seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam was realized. • Cellulase and protease were used to promote dissolution of pharmaceutical components. • A flavonoids yield of 18.75 mg/g was obtained. Abstract The extraction process involving enzymatic treatment and salting-out extraction was developed to accelerate dissolution of flavonoids from the hard compact seeds of Cuscuta chinensis Lam. A combination of enzymes (cellulase and protease) provided higher flavonoid yields than single enzyme. The optimum enzymatic conditions were 5% acidic cellulase, 5% neutral protease, pH 4.5, 45 °C, and 45 min. The salting-out extraction used ammonium sulfate and ethanol (1:2, w/v). Flavonoid yields as high as 18.75 mg/g were obtained from Semen cuscutae under the optimum conditions. Results also showed that the antioxidant properties of the flavonoids were correlated with their contents dirrectly guided by the scavenging activity of 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical. The extraction process could be used for mass production of flavonoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]