Valorization of sage extracts (Salvia officinalis L.) obtained by high voltage electrical discharges: Process control and antioxidant properties

Abstract Study explored high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) for recovery of bioactive compounds from Dalmatian sage. HVED parameters were: treatment time (3, 9 min), ethanol content (0, 25, 50%, v/v), voltage for argon (15, 20 kV) and nitrogen (20, 25 kV). Findings were compared to conventional extraction (CE) with assessment of total phenolic content (TPC), antioxidant activity (EPR), NIR spectroscopy, colorimetric parameters, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Raw sage was analyzed for pesticide residues and heavy metals. The optimal HVED extraction expressed as TPC 57.21 mg GAE/g was obtained with nitrogen/9 min/25 kV/33% of ethanol. Sage is safe for extraction in terms of pesticide residues and heavy metals. HVED electroporation facilitated the extraction of bioactive compounds and produced extracts with high antioxidant potential, thus confirmed HVED as “green” extraction for sustainable functional food production.