Ultrasonic Extracts of Morinda citrifolia L.: Characterization of Volatile Compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Morinda citrifolia (noni) is found in the Atlantic and Amazonian Forest in Brazil and with recognized uses in folk medicine. However, few studies exist in its chemical characterization. The present work aims to investigate the efficiency of the sonication for extracting bioactive compounds from fruits and leaves of noni, using an experimental design of 23, whose variables were time, temperature and mass of the plant. Parallel extractions were performed using two extraction solvents (hexane and ethanol) and the same experimental design. The compounds were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The independent variable was the mass yield and all the variables studied in the sonication process were significant (p < 0.05%) for the process. Ethanol was more effective than hexane and the leaves produced higher yield and diversity of compounds than fruits. Vitamin E (tocopherol), octanoic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, phytol and squalene were the main compounds identified.

诺丽（Morinda citrifolia）分布于巴西大西洋沿岸与亚马逊森林区域，在民间医学中拥有公认的应用价值。然而目前针对其化学表征的相关研究仍较为匮乏。本研究旨在采用2³析因实验设计，探究超声辅助提取诺丽果实与叶片中生物活性成分的效果，实验考察变量为提取时间、温度及植物原料质量。同时分别使用正己烷与乙醇两种提取溶剂，在相同实验设计框架下开展平行提取实验。采用气相色谱-质谱联用法对提取得到的化合物进行定性鉴定。本研究以质量得率为因变量，结果显示超声提取过程中的所有考察变量均对该提取过程具有显著影响（p < 0.05%）。乙醇的提取效果优于正己烷，且叶片提取物的得率与化合物种类均高于果实。本次鉴定得到的主要成分包括维生素E（生育酚）、辛酸、羟甲基糠醛、植醇及角鲨烯。