Abstract

The presence of specific gut microflora limits the biotransformation of Pueraria mirifica isoflavone (PMI) glycosides into absorbable aglycones, thus limiting their health benefits. Cellulolytic enzyme-assisted extraction (CAE) potentially solves this issue; however, solvent extraction requires recovery of the hydrophobic products. Here, we established the simultaneous transformation and extraction of PMIs using cellulolytic enzymes and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs). The NADES compositions were optimized to allow the use of NADESs as CAE media, and the extraction parameters were optimized using response surface methodology (RSM). The optimal conditions were 14.7% (v/v) choline chloride:propylene glycol (1:2 mol ratio, ChCl:PG) at 56.1 °C for the cellulolytic enzyme (262 mU/mL) reaction in which daidzin and genistin were extracted and wholly transformed to their aglycones daidzein and genistein. The extraction of PMIs using ChCl:PG is more efficient than that using conventional solvents; additionally, biocompatible ChCl:PG enhances cellulolytic enzyme activity, catalyzing the transformation of PMIs into compounds with higher estrogenicity and absorbability. [Figure not available: see fulltext.].