Transforming a weed into a source of bioactive compounds: green extraction using ultrasound from mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides)

• Grant number: 25/19948-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2025
• End date: October 31, 2026
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Ana Carolina de Aguiar
• Grantee: Carolina Fernandes
• Host Institution: Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Piracicaba , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of this project is to investigate the potential of high-power ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), a sustainable and efficient technique, for recovering bioactive compounds from mentrasto (Ageratum conyzoides). Despite the well-established nutritional and medicinal potential of mentrasto, its ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) remains underexplored in the literature. Initially, mentrasto flour (MF) will be prepared and subsequently characterized for its proximal composition (moisture, proteins, lipids, ash, and fiber). The MF will undergo UAE trials, where the parameters of solvent composition (ethanol in water mixtures, 20-80% w/w), nominal power (300-800 W), and time (3-30 min) will be selected based on a set of experiments and analysis of the extraction kinetics. The extraction process will be evaluated by comparing the conventional maceration technique with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE). All extracts will be characterized for global yield, total reducing capacity (TRC), antioxidant capacity (FRAP and ORAC), and phenolic content (UPLC-MS). Additionally, the extracts obtained by UAE under the selected operational conditions and the extract obtained by maceration will undergo in vitro gastrointestinal digestion tests (INFOGEST protocol), anti-inflammatory activity (inhibition of NF-¿B and TNF-¿ in RAW 264.7 macrophages), and acute toxicity tests (Galleria mellonella model). The expected results include: the establishment of optimal parameters for UAE and demonstration of the superiority of UAE over conventional extraction in terms of yield, content of bioactive compounds, and the antioxidant/anti-inflammatory capacity of the extracts. Furthermore, the results will be used as a basis for evaluating the potential application of the extracts in the food and pharmaceutical industries, contributing to the sustainable utilization of an underused weed.