This research article examines the application of ultrasound technology for extracting specialized metabolites from nettle powder (Urtica dioica L.). The researchers compared conventional extraction methods with ultrasound-assisted extraction (using two different ultrasound systems) to evaluate their effectiveness in extracting specialized metabolites, including ascorbic acid, polyphenolic compounds, and pigments. The findings reveal that ultrasound-assisted extraction, particularly with a probe system, is significantly more efficient for obtaining higher yields of specialized metabolites in a shorter time compared to conventional and bath-ultrasound extraction. The study also found that ethanol concentration plays a critical role in extraction efficiency: 80% ethanol is more effective for extracting ascorbic acid and pigments, while 50% v/v is more effective for extracting polyphenolic compounds. DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fnut.2022.870923

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