Application and Mechanism of a Green Ultrahigh-Pressure-Assisted Micellar Extraction Process for Cynaroside from Honeysuckle Tea

A method involving ultrahigh-pressure-assisted micellar extraction (UHPM) was developed to extract cynaroside (Cy) from honeysuckle tea. The extracted micelles were screened via a COSMO-RS, and the true solubility of Cy was determined. Response surface methodology (RSM) with a four-factor (extraction pressure, material–particle size, material–liquid ratio, and Tween 60 concentration) central composite design was employed to maximize the Cy extraction efficiency. The theoretical Cy extraction yield was determined to be 73.45% on the basis of a formula determined using RSM. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the maximum extraction yield ranged between 72.44% and 75.25%. Mechanistic analysis revealed that ultrahigh pressure significantly disrupted the plant cell wall structure. The surfactant then entered the cell and formed hydrogen bonds with Cy, facilitating self-assembly into micelles, which allowed for the efficient delivery of the active components. The greenness profile was assessed by using the CHEM21 Toolkit and Complex GAPI, and the results indicated that the proposed method is a green, safe, and efficient approach for the extraction of flavonoids. These findings show the potential use of UHPM in the sustainable extraction of bioactive compounds from natural sources.