Enviro-economic sustainability of ivy leaf powder extraction process based on Phyto-geographic variation of hederacoside C in Hedera helix L. leaves: A lab scale study

Abstract

The traditional industrial production of herbal medicines often relies on unsustainable processes that generate significant environmental pollution. This study focuses on developing a more eco-friendly approach to extracting hederacoside C, a key component in cough medicine derived from ivy (Hedera helix L.). By using Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC), hederacoside C levels were determined in Hedera helix leaves samples from six different geographical locations and one sample from ivy grown under controlled conditions. The concentration of hederacoside C varies depending on the origin of the ivy leaf samples. The highest concentration is found in samples from Ukraine, while the lowest is found in samples from Pakistan. To optimize extraction, the study investigates the impact of different ethanol concentrations, soaking times, and extraction temperatures. The results show that a 40% ethanol solution, 30 min of soaking, and 45 min of extraction at 72 °C yield the highest hederacoside C content (15.26%) in the powder extract, with a 20.52% yield. This optimized method significantly outperforms the conventional extraction technique, which achieves a hederacoside C content of 8.68% in the powder extract. The enrichment of hederacoside C content by conventional method achieved is 2.22 times in powder extract produced with starting herb having hederacoside C content of 3.91%. The proposed sustainable extraction method not only enhances hederacoside C content but also reduces energy consumption and environmental impact by minimizing solvent usage and waste generation. This study highlights the potential for optimizing herbal medicine production to create a more sustainable and environmentally responsible industry.