New Biological and Chemical Insights into Optimization of Chamomile Extracts by Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Model

Aleksandra Cvetanović Kljakić; Miloš Radosavljević; Gokhan Zengin; Linlin Yan; Uroš Gašić; Predrag Kojić; Aleksandra Torbica; Miona Belović; Zoran Zeković

doi:10.3390/plants12061211

New Biological and Chemical Insights into Optimization of Chamomile Extracts by Using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Model

Plants (Basel). 2023 Mar 7;12(6):1211. doi: 10.3390/plants12061211.

Authors

Aleksandra Cvetanović Kljakić¹, Miloš Radosavljević¹, Gokhan Zengin², Linlin Yan³, Uroš Gašić⁴, Predrag Kojić¹, Aleksandra Torbica⁵, Miona Belović⁵, Zoran Zeković¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.
² Department of Biology, Science Faculty, Selcuk University, Konya 42130, Turkey.
³ Institute of Chemical Industry of Forestry Products, Chinese Academy of Forestry, Nanjing 210042, China.
⁴ Institute for Biological Research "Siniša Stanković", National Institute of Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Bulevar Despota Stefana 142, 11060 Belgrade, Serbia.
⁵ Institute of Food Technology, University of Novi Sad, Bulevar Cara Lazara 1, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia.

Abstract

Chamomile is one of the most consumed medicinal plants worldwide. Various chamomile preparations are widely used in various branches of both traditional and modern pharmacy. However, in order to obtain an extract with a high content of the desired components, it is necessary to optimize key extraction parameters. In the present study, optimization of process parameters was performed using the artificial neural networks (ANN) model using a solid-to-solvent ratio, microwave power and time as inputs, while the outputs were the yield of the total phenolic compounds (TPC). Optimized extraction conditions were as follows: a solid-to-solvent ratio of 1:80, microwave power of 400 W, extraction time of 30 min. ANN predicted the content of the total phenolic compounds, which was later experimentally confirmed. The extract obtained under optimal conditions was characterized by rich composition and high biological activity. Additionally, chamomile extract showed promising properties as growth media for probiotics. The study could make a valuable scientific contribution to the application of modern statistical designs and modelling to improve extraction techniques.

Keywords: ANN; UHPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap; antioxidant activity; chamomile; enyzme-inhibition activity; microwave-assisted extraction.

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Non-profit Research Institution of CAF through the project “green extraction technology for functional active ingredients isolation from agricultural and forestry wastes” (Project No. CAFYBB2018GB001). The authors are also grateful to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Republic of Serbia (Project No. -451-03-47/2023-01/200134, University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Technology; Project No. 451-03-68/2022-14/200007, University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research “Siniša Stanković”).