HOMOGENIZER PRETREATMENT INTENSIFIES MICROWAVE-ASSISTED HYDRODISTILLATION OF PATCHOULI LEAVES FOR ENHANCED OIL YIELD AND PATCHOULI ALCOHOL ENRICHMENT
This work evaluates whether homogenizer pretreatment can enhance microwave-assisted hydrodistillation (MAHD) for the extraction of patchouli oil (Pogostemon cablin) by assessing extraction efficiency, chemical composition, andbiological properties. The study optimises homogenization parameters such as dispersion time and rotational speedto disrupt leaf cell structures and enhance oil release. The oil yield of 6.48% was achieved at 4000 rpmand25minutes, showing a significant improvement over conventional methods. The Box-Behnken response surface designmethod was used to study the interactions among leaf-to-water ratio, microwave power, and distillation timetoaccurately predict oil yield and patchouli alcohol concentration. Optimal MAHD conditions produced a significantlyhigher concentration of patchouli alcohol (40.57%) than traditional hydrodistillation (25.50%). However, theMAHD oil showed lower DPPH radical-scavenging activity, with an IC50 of 593.7 µg/mL compared with 19.53µg/mL for the hydrodistilled oil, indicating that enhanced patchouli alcohol recovery was accompanied by reducedretention of some antioxidant-active sesquiterpenes. MAHD also exhibited measurable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli, whereas no inhibition was observed for the hydrodistilled oil under the tested conditions. Overall, the results demonstrate that homogeniser pretreatment can intensify MAHD by improving oil recoveryandselectively enriching patchouli alcohol, while process conditions must be controlled to minimise losses of heat- sensitive constituents. The findings provide a basis for further development of intensified and more resource- efficient extraction processes for value-added patchouli oil. This work supports Sustainable Development Goal 12(Responsible Consumption and Production) by contributing to the development of more efficient and resource- conscious extraction technologies for plant-derived high-value products.
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