Bioactive compounds extraction of Croton lechleri barks from Amazon forest using chemometrics tools

Background: Croton lechleri is a native tree from Amazon Forest and its barks are used as medicine by the indigenous peoples and their descendants. This study aimed to assess the extraction sustainably of bioactive compounds from Croton lechleri barks using chemometric tools. Methods: Phenolic compounds were extracted and evaluated through 23 factorial design and Response Surface Methodology (RSM). High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis was carried out, and its chromatographic profile was used for principal component analysis (PCA) to establish relationships between individual phenolic compound concentrations and the best extraction conditions. Global Response (GR) was performed to obtain a unique extraction condition for all dependent Croton lechleri barks’ dependent variables. Results: The total phenolic compounds (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) varied from 8.8 to 46.57 mg GAE/g (Gallic acid equivalent) and from 81.17 to 283 µmol Trolox/g, respectively. These parameters show coefficients determined for TPC and AA models of 99.70% and 99.80%, respectively. Gallic acid, syringic acid, epicatechin and catechin are present in the metabolism of Croton lechleri. According to HPLC analysis, the three first compounds were better extracted in lower temperatures, while catechin proved to be more stable in higher temperatures. Results showed that the best extraction conditions occurred using water as the solvent at 35 °C during 90 min of the extraction. Also, the coefficient determined for GR was 97.05%, indicating a satisfactory fit model. Conclusion: The extraction of phenolic compounds from Croton lechleri barks could be successfully performed due to the chemometric tools proposed in this research. Thus, the Croton lechleri barks bring prospects for its use as a natural antioxidant and open opportunity to explore new technological applications.