Green and efficient extraction of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanidins using natural deep eutectic solvents and their bioactivities.

Sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanidins (3-DAs) exhibit notable bioactivity but are limited by low extraction efficiency. Nine natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) were prepared using choline chloride with various organic acids. Their structures and physicochemical properties were characterized. Extraction efficiency was influenced by viscosity and HBD structure, with malate-based NADES (ChCl-Ma) showing the highest yield under optimized conditions (25% water, 40 °C, 1:20, 30 min). Compared with methanol extraction, the 3-DAs-enriched extract obtained by ChCl-Ma exhibited superior antioxidant and glycoside hydrolase inhibitory activities. Overall, this work not only provides a greener and more efficient method for extracting 3-DAs from sorghum but also offers a theoretical basis for the high-value utilization of sorghum and highlights the potential of 3-DAs in food and pharmaceutical applications.