Flavonoids from Fig (Ficus carica Linn.) Leaves: The Development of a New Extraction Method and Identification by UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS

Flavonoid-rich leaves of the Ficus carica L. plant are usually discarded as waste. In this work, ultrasonic enzyme-assisted aqueous two-phase extraction (UEAATPE) was proposed an innovative method to estimate total flavonoids present in F. leaves. Total were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively by UPLC-QTOF-MS. At 38% (w/w) ethanol/18% ammonium sulfate, we achieved optimum conditions which establish easy-to-form (ATPE) final system. The optimal UEAATPE set at enzymatic concentration 0.4 U/g, 150 min enzymolysis time, temperature 50 °C, a liquid–solid ratio 20:1 (mL/g), 30 time. yields flavonoids, i.e., 60.22 mg/g, obtained found be 1.13-fold, 1.21-fold, 1.27-fold, 2.43-fold higher than those ATPE (EAATPE), ultrasonic-assisted (UAATPE), ATPE, soxhlet (SE) methods, respectively. Furthermore, eleven from completely identified fully characterized. Among them, ten have been for first time plant. These quercetin 3-O-hexobioside-7-O-hexoside, 2-carboxyl-1,4-naphthohydroquinone-4-O-hexoside, luteolin 6-C-hexoside, 8-C-pentoside, kaempferol 6-C-hexoside-8-C-hexoside, 6-C-hexobioside, apigenin 2″-O-pentoside, 3-O-hexoside, 3-O-hexobioside. Therefore, contain new kinds unidentified natural rich source biological activity. research has potential applications great value waste handling utilization.