Ultrasonic Extracts of Morinda citrifolia L.: Characterization of Volatile Compounds by Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Morinda citrifolia (noni) is found in the Atlantic and Amazonian Forest in Brazil and with recognized uses in folk medicine. However, few studies exist in its chemical characterization. The present work aims to investigate the efficiency of the sonication for extracting bioactive compounds from fruits and leaves of noni, using an experimental design of 23, whose variables were time, temperature and mass of the plant. Parallel extractions were performed using two extraction solvents (hexane and ethanol) and the same experimental design. The compounds were identified by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. The independent variable was the mass yield and all the variables studied in the sonication process were significant (p < 0.05%) for the process. Ethanol was more effective than hexane and the leaves produced higher yield and diversity of compounds than fruits. Vitamin E (tocopherol), octanoic acid, hydroxymethylfurfural, phytol and squalene were the main compounds identified.