Advanced Extraction Technologies as Green Alternatives for Isovitexin Production From Passiflora edulis Sims

Passiflora edulis Sims, a tropical species of the family Passifloraceae, is widely used in traditional medicine and in food and pharmaceutical products. Conventional extraction of its bioactive compounds relies on infusion, a slow and resource-intensive method. This study compares infusion with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and rapid solid-liquid dynamic extraction (RSLDE) to optimize extract production. Extraction kinetics in ethanol–water mixtures were modeled using an exponential kinetic function, and the resulting extracts were evaluated for total polyphenols (Folin–Ciocalteu) and antioxidant activity (2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl). Advanced techniques significantly reduced extraction times while maintaining yields (24 h for maceration vs. 2 h for UAE and 1 h for RSLDE). Furthermore, the main secondary metabolite present in the organic extracts has been purified using chromatographic methods and identified as the flavonoid isovitexin through mass spectrometry, polarimetry, and nuclear magnetic resonance. High-performance liquid chromatography-ultraviolet analysis showed isovitexin levels above 50% in all extracts, demonstrating the potential for obtaining this high-value compound rapidly and through an eco-sustainable process.