Modeling and Optimization of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Allium sativum Leaves Using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network Coupled with Genetic Algorithm

This study explains the effect of ultrasound on the extraction of the bioactive compounds from garlic (Allium sativum L.) leaf powder. The experiment was carried out by varying the ultrasound amplitude (30–60%), treatment time (5–15 min), and ethanol concentration (40–60%) required to obtain the maximum extraction yield of total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity. Rotatable central composite design (RCCD) provided experimental parameter combinations in the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of garlic leaf powder. The values of extraction yield, TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity for the optimized condition of RSM were obtained at 53% amplitude, 13 min of treatment time, and 50% ethanol concentration. The values of the target compounds predicted at this optimized condition from RSM were 32.2% extraction yield, 9.9 mg GAE/g TPC, 6.8 mg QE/g TFC, and 58% antioxidant activity. The ANN-GA optimized condition for the leaf extracts was obtained at 60% amplitude, 13 min treatment time, and 53% ethanol concentration. The predicted values of optimized condition obtained by ANN-GA were recorded as 32.1738% extraction yield and 9.8661 mg GAE/g, 6.8398 mg QE/g, and 58.5527% for TPC, TFC, and antioxidant activity, respectively. The matured leaves of garlic, if not harvested during its cultivation, often go waste despite being rich in antioxidants and phenolic compounds. With the increased demand for the production of value-added products, the extraction of the bioactive compounds from garlic leaves can resolve waste management and potential health issues without affecting the crop yield through the process for high-end use in value addition.