Comparative evaluation of ethanol, methanol, and aqueous extracts of dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root for nutraceutical applications

_{Introduction:}

_{Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) root is source of bioactive compounds, including phenolic acids, flavonoids, polysaccharides, and fatty acids, which contribute to its traditional applications in herbal medicine, functional foods, and nutraceuticals. The extraction efficiency of these phytochemicals substantially depends on the solvent used. This study aims to evaluate the chemical, physicochemical, antioxidant, and fatty acid profiles of dandelion root extracts using ethanol, methanol, and aqueous as solvents.}

_Methodology:

_{Dried dandelion root powder (20g) was subjected to Soxhlet extraction using 200mL of ethanol, methanol, and distilled water(w/v). The resulting extracts were analyzed for physicochemical properties including moisture content, pH, and titratable acidity using standard AOAC methods. Functional groups were identified using FTIR. Bioactive compounds were identified using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), while fatty acid composition was determined using Gas Chromatography with Flame Ionization Detection (GC-FID). Antioxidant activity was evaluated through DPPH radical scavenging activity and total phenolic content.}

_Results:

_{Ethanolic and methanolic extracts exhibited higher yields of phenolic compounds (16.43mg GAE/mL and 18.11mg GAE/mL, respectively) compared to the aqueous extract, whereas aqueous extracts were notably rich in polysaccharides and demonstrated good antioxidant properties, reflected by higher 73%DPPH activity. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl, and alkene functional groups across all extracts. GC-MS analysis revealed a diverse range of bioactive compounds, including essential fatty acids (17.7min), esters (31.08min, 47.1min), furans (16.6min), amino acid derivatives (41.3min, 15.08min) and polysaccharides (55.3min). The ethanolic extract showed the higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content, particularly linoleic (15.17g/100mL) and linolenic acids (4.15g/100mL).}

_Conclusions:

_{The type of solvent significantly impacts the extracted bioactive compounds from dandelion roots. Ethanol extract proved effective for extracting phenolics and PUFAs, indicating suitability for nutraceutical applications. Aqueous extraction is preferable when targeting polysaccharides with high DPPH activity. These findings support solvent-specific extraction strategies for developing targeted nutraceuticals.}