Extraction of Catechins from Aegle marmelos Fruit Pulp: Statistical Optimization Using Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Networks

Abstract

Aegle marmelos is a medicinal herb that has a variety of biological constituents. “Catechins” are a class of phenolic compounds that have therapeutic value. The present study employs batch extraction with methanol as a solvent to extract the catechins from the pulp of Aegle marmelos fruit. Box–Behnken design of response surface methodology (RSM-BBD) is used to optimize the operational parameters impacting catechin extraction, such as solvent concentration, pH, and extraction time. Extraction of 96.5% of catechins was achieved at a methanol concentration of 80%, pH 6.24, and a soaking period of 44.7 hrs (desirability: 0.966). Additionally, MATLAB’s artificial neural network (ANN) was used to accurately estimate the extraction yield. The antimicrobial activity of the methanolic extract was tested against five different pathogens, including Streptococcus, Bacillus mega, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus cerecus, and Staphylococcus aureus, using the agar diffusion method and the tube dilution method. Streptococcus, Bacillus cereus, and pseudomonas putida showed high activity.