Manufacturing design to improve the attainment of functional ingredients from Aloysia citriodora leaves by advanced microwave technology

A manufacturing design and control of bioactive ingredients from Aloysia citriodora was performed applying microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Thus, a Response Surface Methodology based on Central Composite Design 23 model was performed to monitor the matrix behavior. The factors were extraction time, percentage of solvent and temperature. The chosen responses were extraction yield and phytochemicals recovery. The design allowed to find the optimal conditions for each response and to validate them in order to attain high quality ingredients. These results pointed out that MAE is a novel technique which could be used to improve the new functional ingredient development.