Process Intensification of Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Polyphenols from Hancornia speciosa Gomes Fruit

Abstract

This study aimed to intensify the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) of rutin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and total phenolic compounds (TPCs) from mangaba (Hancornia speciosa Gomes) fruit. Based on a univariate experimental screening, the selected operational conditions for the recovery of TPC, chlorogenic, and ferulic acids were achieved at an ultrasonic frequency of 40 kHz with an output power of 145 W (100% potency), atmospheric pressure, and 35 °C for 30 min. Under these conditions, the extraction yields were 1540.46 ± 19.48 mg GAE/100 g for TPC, 183.86 ± 4.53 mg/100 g for chlorogenic acid, and 2.19 ± 0.3 mg/100 g for ferulic acid. Conversely, the highest rutin concentration (157.17 ± 4.68 mg/100 g) was obtained at 145 W, atmospheric pressure, and 30 °C for 30 min. Increasing the ultrasonic potency from 30% to 100% significantly enhanced the extraction of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and TPC, whereas it had no significant impact on rutin recovery. These results demonstrate that time, temperature, and ultrasonic potency are critical drivers of process efficiency. This work establishes a technical baseline for the industrial scale-up of UAE, highlighting its potential for the high-yield production of bioactive extracts from native Brazilian fruits for the pharmaceutical and food sectors.

1. Introduction

Hancornia speciosa Gomes (Apocynaceae) is a medicinally significant arboreal species native to the Northern, Northeastern, and Midwestern phytogeographical regions of Brazil [1]. Its fruit, commonly known as mangaba, constitutes a complex phytochemical matrix containing ascorbic acid, carotenoids, and diverse phenolic fractions [2]. These secondary metabolites are well documented for their therapeutic properties, including antineoplastic, antimicrobial, antiviral, and immunomodulatory activities, as well as their contribution to reducing the incidence of cardiovascular and neurodegenerative disorders [3,4,5]. This phytochemical richness highlights H. speciosa as a valuable functional resource for both the food and pharmaceutical industries [3,4,6].

Despite its high bioactive content, H. speciosa remains underexploited in industrial contexts, largely due to the pronounced post-harvest perishability of its fruits [7]. This constraint emphasizes the need for extraction strategies that enable the recovery of thermolabile compounds such as rutin, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid, which are often present at concentrations exceeding those found in more widely commercialized tropical fruits [5]. However, extracting these molecules from complex plant matrices requires efficient processes that maximize separation [8]. While methanol, ethanol, and their aqueous mixtures are commonly used, with methanol–water being particularly effective for dissolving polyphenols, the interaction of target analytes with other matrix components remains a challenge [9,10].

Conventional extraction methods, including maceration, reflux, and Soxhlet extraction, are limited by low efficiency, high solvent consumption, and the risk of thermal degradation of sensitive analytes [11,12,13,14]. Emerging process intensification technologies have been investigated to overcome these limitations. Microwave-Assisted Extraction (MAE) enables rapid heating through dipole rotation but may induce localized hotspots that promote oxidation of phenolic acids [15]. Pulsed Electric Fields (PEFs) achieve selectivity via electroporation, though their performance depends on medium conductivity and requires substantial capital investment [16].

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE), in contrast, has gained attention as a versatile and cost-effective alternative. UAE relies on acoustic cavitation to disrupt cell walls under moderate thermal conditions, thereby facilitating the release of bioactive compounds while preserving the structural integrity of thermolabile antioxidants and reducing solvent requirements compared to conventional methods [17,18,19,20].

The mechanism of UAE involves ultrasonic waves generated by a transducer that perturb the plant matrix [21,22,23]. These forces create microfractures in the cellular structure, increasing surface area and accelerating the diffusion of bioactives into the solvent phase [21,22]. Extraction efficiency is determined by the interplay of parameters such as power density, frequency, duration, and temperature [24,25,26]. Although UAE has been successfully applied to various botanical sources [17,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35], its use in H. speciosa has been limited to specific applications, including osmotic dehydration and pressurized fluid systems.

To date, no systematic investigation has addressed the extraction of rutin, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and Total Phenolic Content (TPC) from H. speciosa fruits. The present study therefore aimed to examine process parameters that facilitate the recovery of these compounds, contributing to the development of reference protocols for the industrial and biotechnological valorization of H. speciosa.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Reagents and Standards

All solvents used for extraction and chromatographic analysis were of HPLC grade. Methanol and acetic acid were purchased from Tedia (Fairfield, OH, USA), and ultra-pure water was obtained using a Milli-Q purification system (Millipore, Bedford, MA, USA). High-purity analytical standards (≥95%), including gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin, were acquired from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). Additionally, Folin–Ciocalteu reagent was also sourced from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). All other chemicals used were of analytical grade.

2.2. Vegetable Material and Sample Preparation

Semi-ripe mangaba fruits were collected from the Active Germplasm Bank of Embrapa Coastal Tablelands, in Itaporanga D’Ajuda, Sergipe, Brazil (11°06′40″ S; 37°11′15″ W). The mangaba pulp and seed were manually separated, and then the pulp was homogenized in a blender and frozen at −80 °C for 4 h. After freezing, the samples were dried in a lyophilizer for 72 h to obtain an average moisture content of 3.63 G·g⁻¹ (g water/g solids, dry basis).

2.3. Soxhlet Extraction

The exhaustive extraction of bioactive compounds was performed using a Soxhlet apparatus to establish a benchmark for the total extractable content (100% recovery). A solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:30 (g/mL) was selected for this reference method, utilizing 5.0 g of lyophilized mangaba fruit and 150 mL of solvent, to ensure an extensive mass transfer driving force. This ratio was specifically designed to exceed the 1:20 (g/mL) ratio used in the UAE trials, thereby guaranteeing that the reference method operates well beyond the solubility limits and avoids solvent saturation during the consecutive siphon cycles.

Briefly, the sample was placed in a cellulose paper cartridge and extracted using a methanol/water mixture (9:1, v/v) in an amber round-bottom flask. The entire apparatus was shielded from light with aluminum foil to prevent the photodegradation of sensitive analytes. The process was conducted in triplicate for 4 h, maintaining a reflux frequency of two cycles per hour. This approach ensures that the Soxhlet data represents the maximum potential recovery, providing a rigorous standard for evaluating the relative performance and solvent efficiency of the ultrasound-assisted process.

2.4. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction

The UAE process was performed using an ultrasonic water bath (Model USC-2800, Unique, Indaiatuba, Brazil) equipped with a piezoelectric transducer operating at a fixed frequency of 40 kHz and a maximum nominal power of 145 W. Approximately 5.0 g of lyophilized H. speciosa was accurately weighed and placed in a 250 mL Erlenmeyer flask. To this, 100 mL of a methanol/water (9:1, v/v) mixture was added, maintaining a constant solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:20 (g/mL). The methanol:water (9:1, v/v) system was selected to optimize the extraction of H. speciosa polyphenols. While methanol effectively disrupts solute-matrix hydrogen bonds, the 10% water content increases the medium polarity, facilitating the recovery of glycosylated compounds like rutin. Furthermore, water promotes matrix swelling, reducing internal mass transfer resistance and enhancing the mechanical impact of acoustic cavitation on the plant cell walls [7,17].

To prevent solvent evaporation and maintain a constant stoichiometric ratio, all flasks were hermetically sealed. To ensure a uniform distribution of the acoustic field and minimize mass transfer resistance, all experiments were conducted under constant mechanical agitation at 10 RPM. Furthermore, the flasks were secured in a standardized central position within the bath to ensure consistent exposure to the cavitation field across all replicates.

To maintain isothermal conditions, the initial temperature of both the solvent and the coupling water bath was pre-equilibrated to the specific assay setpoints (30, 35, or 40 °C). During sonication, the temperature was strictly monitored using a digital thermometer; any thermal increase induced by acoustic cavitation was mitigated by a continuous water exchange system, ensuring the final temperature remained within ±2 °C of the target value. This strict thermal control is essential to prevent the sonochemical degradation of bioactive solutes, as supported by studies on cavitation-assisted extraction of phenolic matrices. All assays (

Table 1. The experimental design of molecule separation from mangaba fruit by using UAE.

	Variables
Assays	Time (min)	Temperature (°C)	Potency (%)
1	10	30	100
2	20	30	100
3	30	30	100
4	30	35	100
5	30	40	100
6	30	35	30
7	30	35	50
8	30	35	70

) were performed in triplicate. Following extraction, the solvent was removed via vacuum evaporation to obtain the crude extracts.

2.5. Total Phenolic Compounds (TPCs)

TPCs were determined by using the Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric method [1]. Briefly, 50 µL of the extract was mixed with 3.0 mL of deionized water and 250 µL of Folin–Ciocalteu reagent (1 N). The mixture was incubated for 8 min. After this, sodium carbonate solution (20% m/v) and 950 µL of deionized water were added. Then, the solution was incubated for 30 min. Absorbance was measured at 765 nm using a UV–visible Spectrophotometer (Shimadzu UV-1800, Kyoto, Japan). A calibration curve was obtained from the gallic acid standard, and TPC values were expressed as mg of gallic acid equivalents by 100 g of extract (mg GAE/100 g E).

2.6. UPLC-MS/MS Analysis

The simultaneous analysis of rutin, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid was performed on a UPLC-MS/MS system (Waters Co., Milford, MA, USA) connected to a TQD triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (Waters Co., USA) equipped with an electrospray ion source (ESI). The Acquity UPLC BEH C18 column (2.1 × 100 mm, 1.7 μm) (Waters Co., Milford, MA, USA) was used for the chromatographic separation at 40 °C. The binary mobile phase consisted of 0.1% formic acid in water (mobile phase A) and methanol (mobile phase B). The flow rate was 0.3 mL/min⁻¹ and the gradient elution was carried out as follows: 0–0.01 min, 95% A; 0.01–10 min, 50% A; 10–12 min, 50% de A; 12–20 min, 95% de A. An injection volume of 1 μL was used. Mass spectrometry analysis was operated using ESI in the negative ion mode. The MS instrument parameters determined after tuning were as follows: capillary voltage, 3.0 kV; desolvation temperature, 450 °C and flow 900 L/h; cone gas (nitrogen, 99.9% purity) flow, 50 L/h.

The reliability of chromatographic quantification was proven by the linearity parameters determined for each phenolic biomarker. The HPLC-DAD (Shimadzu Co., Kyoto, Japan) method showed high sensitivity and strong linear correlation within the investigated concentration ranges. For chlorogenic acid (1.0–50.0 µg mL⁻¹), the calibration curve followed the equation y = 58.476x − 75.85 (R² = 0.9966), while for ferulic acid (0.2–70.0 µg mL⁻¹) it was defined by y = 92,250x − 3018.7 (R² = 0.9972). Rutin (76.3–179.8 µg mL⁻¹) was quantified using the equation y = 74,520x + 1,000,000 (R² = 0.9918). All coefficients of determination (R²) were greater than 0.99, confirming the statistical validity of the analytical results for the H. speciosa extracts.

2.7. Statistical Analysis

The results were reported as mean ± standard deviation obtained from triplicate data. All data were analyzed using the SAS^® Software (version 9.1), the statistical analysis of variance (ANOVA), and the Bonferroni test to evaluate significant differences. A significant difference level was found at p < 0.05.

3. Results

3.1. Evaluation of Total Phenolic Compounds Extraction

In this study, conventional Soxhlet extraction was compared with Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) using a methanol:water (9:1, v/v) solvent system for both methods. To evaluate the recovery of bioactive compounds from mangaba, the effects of ultrasonic power (%), extraction time (min), and temperature (°C) were investigated. Soxhlet extraction served as a reference method to benchmark the efficiency of the UAE process. The yields of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) obtained under these experimental conditions are summarized in

Table 2. Total phenolic compounds from mangaba fruit were obtained by using UAE and soxhlet.

Assays	Variables
	Time (min)	Temperature (°C)	Potency (%)	Total Phenolic Compounds (mg GAE/100 g)
I	10	30	100	1324.81 ± 82.39 b,c,d
II	20	30	100	1426.91 ± 9.02 a,b,c
III	30	30	100	1540.46 ± 19.48 a
IV	30	35	100	1463.94 ± 68.33 a,b
V	30	40	100	1166.77 ± 1.09 d
VI	30	35	30	662.13 ± 42.23 e
VII	30	35	50	1282.56 ± 103.96 c,d
VIII	30	35	70	1357.36 ± 53.12 b,c
Soxhlet	240	BP	---	1491.82 ± 28.58 a,b

Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Means followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ significantly (p > 0.05). Soxhlet extraction was conducted using a methanol–water mixture (9:1, v/v) at a temperature above the boiling point (BP) of the solvent system (>64 °C).

.

As shown in Table 2, the highest extraction yields of total phenolic compounds (TPCs) from mangaba fruit were obtained by using UAE for 20 and 30 min at 30 and 35 °C under ultrasonic potency at 100% (Assays II and III). The results also indicate that increasing the extraction temperature from 30 °C to 40 °C led to a reduction in TPC yield. Nevertheless, the UAE potency positively influenced the concentration of total phenolic compounds, ranging from 662.1 ± 1.96 mg GAE/100 g (30%) to 1540.46 ± 19.48 mg GAE/100 g (100%).

3.2. Effect of Extraction Time on Concentration of Chlorogenic Acid, Ferulic Acid, and Rutin

Based on high-performance liquid chromatography analysis carried out in the present study, chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin were identified as the major compounds in the mangaba fruit extract.

Table 3. Contents of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin in mangaba extracts obtained by UAE. These results are compared with the exhaustive Soxhlet method conducted at the boiling point (BP) of a methanol–water (9:1, v/v) mixture.

Compounds (mg·100 g−1)	10 min/UAE	20 min/UAE	30 min/UAE	240 min/Soxhlet
Chlorogenic acid	30.48 ± 0.26 a	32.43 ± 1.72 a	109.09 ± 1.31 b	101.04 ± 2.24 b
Ferulic acid	1.37 ± 0.74 a	1.79 ± 0.02 a	1.82 ± 0.14 a	1.84 ± 0.47 a
Rutin	135.65 ± 1.95 a	131.37 ± 3.88 a	157.17 ± 4.68 b	141.60 ± 2.75 a

Results are reported as mean ± standard deviation. Mean following the same lowercase letter indicates there are no significant differences in the same line.

shows the time extraction influence on the separation of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin from mangaba fruit.

The UAE and Soxhlet methods were compared to evaluate the extraction efficiency of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. This comparison was conducted to assess the performance of the selected operational conditions for the recovery of these target compounds. The highest chlorogenic acid (109.09 ± 1.31) and rutin (157.17 ± 4.68) values were obtained through UAE for 30 min at 30 °C and 100% ultrasonic power. The ferulic acid value obtained with UAE for 20 min (1.79 ± 0.02) and the exhaustive Soxhlet method (1.84 ± 0.47) for 240 min showed a similar quantity. Therefore, UAE performed for 20 min was sufficient to achieve ferulic acid separation in a significantly shorter time with Soxhlet extraction (240 min).

3.3. Effect of Extraction Temperature on the Yield of Mangaba Polyphenols

The temperature influence of the UAE on the concentration of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin from mangaba fruit is shown in

Table 4. Chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin contents in mangaba fruit extracts obtained by UAE and exhaustive Soxhlet extraction using a methanol–water mixture (9:1, v/v) at boiling point (>64 °C).

Compounds (mg·100 g−1)	30 °C	35 °C	40 °C	Soxhlet
Chlorogenic acid	109.09 ± 1.31 a	183.86 ± 4.53 b	131.67 ± 1.7 c	101.04 ± 2.24 a
Ferulic acid	1.82 ± 0.14 a	2.19 ± 0.3 a	1.22 ± 0.1 b	1.84 ± 0.47 a
Rutin	157.17 ± 4.68 a	130.13 ± 9.79 b,c	125.51 ± 2.13 b	141.60 ± 2.75 a,c

Data presented as mean ± SD. Values in the same row sharing the same lowercase letter indicate no significant difference (p > 0.05).

. As can be seen from Table 4, the temperature did show considerable effects on the extraction efficiencies of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. When the UAE temperature for chlorogenic acid was increased to 40 °C or decreased to 30 °C relative to 35 °C, a reduction in extraction efficiency was observed. The concentration decreased from 183.86 ± 4.53 mg·100 g at 35 °C to 131.67 ± 1.7 mg·100 g at 40 °C and 109.09 ± 1.31 mg·100 g at 30 °C. Soxhlet extraction also resulted in a lower chlorogenic acid yield (101.04 ± 2.24 mg·100 g) compared with UAE at 35 °C. For ferulic acid, UAE performed at 30 °C (1.82 ± 0.14 mg·100 g) and 35 °C (2.19 ± 0.3 mg·100 g) produced values similar to those obtained with Soxhlet extraction (1.84 ± 0.47 mg·100 g).

3.4. Ultrasonic Potency Effect on the Yield of Mangaba Polyphenols

Table 5. The chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin contents in mangaba fruit extracts.

Compounds (mg·100 g−1)	30%	50%	70%	100%
Chlorogenic acid	93.98 ± 1.00 a	87.96 ± 1.68 a	94.75 ± 12.68 a	183.86 ± 4.53 b
Ferulic acid	0.65 ± 0.03 a,e	1.3 ± 0.12 b	0.71 ± 0.004 c,e	2.19 ± 0.3 d
Rutin	124.37 ± 12.22 a	124.35 ± 13.14 a	133.86 ± 3.59 a	157.17 ± 4.68 b

Results are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. Means within the same row followed by the same lowercase letter do not differ significantly (p > 0.05).

shows the effect of UAE potency (30, 50, 70 and 100%) on the extraction of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. The UAE potency at 100% provided higher extraction of chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin than at 30%. UAE potency at 100% obtained 183.86 ± 4.53 mg·100 g of chlorogenic acid, 2.19 ± 0.3 mg·100 g of ferulic acid, and 157.17 ± 4.68 mg·100 g of rutin.

4. Discussion

The extraction of bioactive compounds must be conducted under carefully controlled conditions to maximize the utilization of the plant matrix and ensure the selectivity of target molecules [36]. According to Pradal et al. (2016), Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) is most effective during the initial 30 min, after which mass transfer from the solid to the liquid phase tends to decrease [37].

The performance of UAE was benchmarked against the conventional Soxhlet method to evaluate its potential for process intensification. In Assay III (30 min, 30 °C, 100% potency), a total phenolic content (TPC) yield of 1540.46 mg GAE/100 g was obtained, which is statistically equivalent (p > 0.05) to the maximum recovery achieved via Soxhlet (1491.82 mg GAE/100 g). The primary advantage of UAE lies in its superior efficiency, achieving an 87.5% reduction in extraction time (30 min vs. 240 min). While Soxhlet relies on continuous solvent reflux at boiling points, potentially inducing thermal degradation of sensitive phyto-compounds, UAE operates through acoustic cavitation, involving the nucleation, growth, and implosion of microbubbles [36]. This phenomenon generates shockwaves and micro-jets that mechanically disrupt Hancornia speciosa cell walls, facilitating rapid solute transfer into the solvent matrix with significantly lower thermal stress.

A linear increase in TPC recovery was observed across Assays I–III. Extending the process from 10 to 30 min resulted in a 16% increase in yield, suggesting that a 30 min interval is sufficient to overcome the initial resistance of the lyophilized matrix and reach an extraction plateau. Regarding acoustic potency, a clear operational threshold was identified. At 30% potency (Assay VI), the yield was limited to 662.13 mg GAE/100 g, whereas increasing the output to 100% (Assay IV) promoted a 121% increase in TPC. Higher power levels enhance ultrasonic wave amplitude, increasing cavitational density. This process, known as sonoporation, generates microfractures in the lignocellulosic framework of the mangaba matrix, ensuring solvent accessibility to bound phenolic fractions otherwise unreachable by passive diffusion.

While elevated temperatures typically increase solute solubility and diffusivity by reducing solvent viscosity [38], this study found that UAE at 30 °C yielded TPC levels comparable to Soxhlet extraction performed at the boiling point of the methanol–water system (>64 °C). However, temperature also influences separation selectivity over time [38].

A critical finding was the negative correlation between temperature and TPC recovery beyond 30 °C. The decline from 1463.94 mg GAE/100 g (35 °C, Assay IV) to 1166.77 mg GAE/100 g (40 °C, Assay V) highlights the sensitivity of H. speciosa bioactives to thermo-acoustic stress. Rising solvent vapor pressure fills cavitation bubbles with vapor, dampening implosion forces and reducing mechanical shear. Localized “hotspots” generated during cavitation may surpass the stability threshold of thermolabile phenolics such as rutin and chlorogenic acid. Additionally, higher temperatures may reduce extraction selectivity by promoting co-extraction of primary metabolites (sugars and proteins), which interfere with solvent capacity for phenolic fractions.

The substantially higher TPC recovery observed here compared to previous reports—Lima et al. (2015) (490 mg GAE/100 g) [39], Rufino et al. (2010) (169 mg GAE/100 g) [40], and Almeida et al. (2011) (98.8 mg GAE/100 g) [41]—is attributed to the synergistic effect of the lyophilized matrix and the 90% methanol solvent system, which enhances porosity and solubility relative to conventional methods.

The HPLC analysis performed in this study identified chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin as the primary phenolic constituents of Hancornia speciosa. The present data revealed a parabolic extraction trend for chlorogenic acid, with maximum recovery achieved at 35 °C (183.86 ± 4.53 mg/100 g). The significant decrease in yield at 40 °C suggests that, under the specific conditions of this investigation, the thermal stability threshold of the analyte was exceeded, potentially leading to oxidative degradation. Similarly, rutin recovery was maximized at the lowest evaluated temperature (30 °C), further indicating its susceptibility to thermal cleavage within the mangaba matrix. Regarding the comparative performance of the methods, ferulic acid yields obtained via UAE within 20 min were statistically equivalent (p > 0.05) to those resulting from the 240 min exhaustive Soxhlet extraction. This research demonstrates that the application of ultrasonic energy substantially accelerates mass transfer, resulting in a 12-fold reduction in extraction time. As presented in Table 5, the results indicate that increasing ultrasonic power to 100% significantly enhances the recovery of all target compounds. This effect is attributed to the intensification of acoustic cavitation, which generates high-shear forces and micro-jets capable of promoting the disruption of mangaba cell walls. Consequently, the findings of this work emphasize the role of acoustic energy in mitigating diffusional limitations, thereby facilitating solvent penetration and the release of bioactive compounds from the plant matrix.

Collectively, these findings confirm that moderate temperatures combined with acoustic cavitation preserve the chemical integrity of mangaba bioactives more effectively than prolonged thermal exposure in Soxhlet extraction (>64 °C). The advantages of UAE derive primarily from cavitation phenomena, which facilitate solvent penetration and compound release, accelerating mass transfer more efficiently than thermal intensification alone [42]. Nevertheless, precise temperature control remains essential to maximize yields while preventing degradation of thermolabile compounds [43].

Furthermore, ultrasonic power is directly proportional to the energy transferred to the medium, enhancing extraction through mechanical effects within the matrix. Asymmetric bubble collapse generates micro-jets that rupture cell walls and enlarge pores, functioning as micro-pumps that force solvent into the particles and significantly improve recovery of bioactive compounds [44,45].

Taken together, the results highlight UAE as a scalable and sustainable technology, capable of delivering high-purity H. speciosa bioactives with superior efficiency compared to conventional methods. This positions UAE as a promising alternative for industrial applications in the valorization of mangaba matrices.

5. Conclusions

This study demonstrates the potential of Hancornia speciosa as a valuable source of phenolic compounds, particularly chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, and rutin. Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction proved to be an efficient and selective technique, achieving comparable yields to Soxhlet extraction with substantially reduced processing time. The findings confirm that UAE can preserve thermolabile compounds under controlled conditions, highlighting its relevance for bioactive recovery. The conclusions are delimited to the lyophilized matrix and the parametric ranges investigated. While the present work establishes a solid technical baseline, further studies employing multi-variable optimization approaches (e.g., Response Surface Methodology) are required to define global optima and assess scalability. These results provide a foundation for future research on industrial implementation, energy efficiency, and the integration of UAE into functional food production chains.