Sonication, a Potential Technique for Extraction of Phytoconstituents: A Systematic Review

Traditional extraction techniques have lost their optimum performance because of rising consumer demand and novel technologies. In this regard, several techniques were developed by humans for the extraction of plant materials from various indigenous sources, which are no longer in use. Many of the techniques are not efficient enough to extract maximum plant material. By this time, evolution in extraction has led to development of various techniques including microfiltration, pulsed electric fields, high pressure, microwave assistance, enzyme assistance, supercritical fluid, subcritical fluid and ultrasonication. These innovations in food processing/extraction are known as “Green Food Processing”. These technologies were basically developed by focusing on three universal parameters: simplicity, energy efficiency and economy. These green technologies are practical in a number of different food sectors, mostly for preservation, inhibition of microorganisms, inactivation of enzymes and extraction of plant material. Like the others, ultrasonication could also be used for the said purposes. The primary objective of this review is to confine the potential use of ultrasonication for extraction of oils, pectin and phytochemicals by reviewing the literature systematically.