Abstract

Murta, native to southern Chile, comprises red murta (Ugni molinae Turcz) and white murta (Ugni candollei Barm), traditionally utilized in ethnobotanical medicine for its anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties attributed to high flavonoid and phenolic acid content. Despite murta's potential, the combined effects of sustainable extraction techniques—eutectic solvents (ES), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE)—on its polyphenol profile remain unexplored. A comprehensive analysis should quantify extractable polyphenols (EPP) and non-extractable polyphenols (NEPP). This study evaluated eight ES mixtures for polyphenol extraction from red and white murta leaves and fruits, optimizing water percentage and feed:solvent ratio. Choline chloride:1,3-butanediol (ChCl:1,3BD) with 30 % water and a 1:10 ratio yielded the highest EPP content, as determined by HPLC-DAD. Among various MAE and UAE conditions tested, MAE at 353 K for 3 min achieved optimal phenolic compound yields, with catechin predominating in leaf extracts and gallic acid in fruit extracts. NEPP fractions, consisting primarily of non-extractable proanthocyanidins, represented 8–19 % of total polyphenols in fruits and leaves. These findings establish a sustainable methodology for obtaining polyphenol-rich extracts from murta and highlight the importance of both EPP and NEPP fractions in enhancing the potential of these antioxidant-enriched food extracts obtained through eco-friendly technologies