Ultrasound-assisted extraction and RP-HPLC quantification of β-caryophyllene in plant essential oils: Separation efficiency and insecticidal activity
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Date
2025
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Abstract
This study details the development of a method for separating essential oils using ultrasound-assisted extraction
(UAE) and quantifying β-caryophyllene in 14 plant samples via reverse phase-high performance liquid chro
matography (RP-HPLC). Extraction efficiencies of methods like hydrodistillation, Soxhlet extraction, and ultra
sonic extraction were compared, with n-hexane, methanol, and ethyl acetate as solvents. Notably, UAE with n
hexane showed the highest β-caryophyllene yield in HPLC analysis. Separation was achieved within 20 min using
isocratic elution on a C-18 reverse-phase column, with a mobile phase of acetonitrile and water (70:30) at room
temperature and detection at 210 nm via diode array. The method showed excellent linearity (0.1–5 µg/mL),
with LOD and LOQ values of 0.02 and 0.07 µg/mL, respectively, achieving high accuracy (recovery rate of
102.1%) and precision (RSD 0.45%). Additionally, the insecticidal potential of β-caryophyllene, isolated from
Hyptis suaveolens essential oil, was tested against two storage pests, Sitophilus granarius and Corcyra cephalonica
larvae, demonstrating significant insecticidal activity. This suggests that β-caryophyllene could serve as an
effective natural insecticide.