Skip to main content
ARS Home » Southeast Area » New Orleans, Louisiana » Southern Regional Research Center » Commodity Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #401449
Research Project: Improved Conversion of Sugar Crops into Food, Biofuels, Biochemicals, and Bioproducts

Location: Commodity Utilization Research

Title: Recovery of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum plant extract using a solvent mixture, and its potential use as a nematicide

Author
item Klasson, K Thomas
item Qi, Yunci
item Bruni, Gillian
item WATSON, TRISTAN - LSU Agcenter
item BRETLYN, PANCIO - Oak Ridge Institute For Science And Education (ORISE)
item Terrell, Evan

Submitted to: Life
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 3/1/2023
Publication Date: 3/8/2023
Citation: Klasson, K.T., Qi, Y., Bruni, G.O., Watson, T.T., Pancio, B.T., Terrell, E. 2023. Recovery of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum plant extract using a solvent mixture, and its potential use as a nematicide. Life. 13(3). Article 724. https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030724
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/life13030724

Interpretive Summary: Aconitic acid is a chemical that is naturally present in sweet sorghum juice and syrup and has been suggested as a natural product that can control nematodes. Therefore, we developed a process for extraction of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum syrup. The estimated cost was evaluated, and the extract was tested to see if it could control the nematodes called Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne incognita. Aconitic acid could efficiently be extracted from sweet sorghum syrup using acetone:butanol:ethanol mixtures and then recovered from this solvent. The estimated production cost was $16.64/kg of extract. The extract was effective in reducing the activity of M. incognita and causing over 50% to die when 0.2% was added. However, this positive result could not conclusively be linked solely to aconitic acid. An unknown component in the sweet sorghum extract appears to be an effective nematode inhibitor and may merit further investigation.

Technical Abstract: OTrans-aconitic acid (TAA) is naturally present in sweet sorghum juice and syrup and has been promoted as a potential biocontrol agent for nematodes. Therefore, we developed a process for extraction of aconitic acid from sweet sorghum syrup. The process economics were evaluated, and the extract was tested for its capability to suppress motility of the nematodes Caenorhabditis elegans and Meloidogyne incognita. Aconitic acid could efficiently be extracted from sweet sorghum syrup using acetone:butanol:ethanol mixtures and it could be recovered from this solvent with a sodium carbonate solution with an overall extraction and recovery efficiency of 86%. The estimated production cost was $16.64/kg of extract and highly dependent on solvent cost, as the solvent was not recycled but resold for recovery at a fraction of the cost. The extract was effective in reducing the motility of the parasitic M. incognita and causing over 50% mortality of the nematode when 2 mg/mL of TAA extract was added. However, this positive result could not conclusively be linked solely to TAA. An unidentified component in the acetone:butanol:ethanol-sweet sorghum extract appears to be an effective nematode inhibitor and may merit further investigation. The impact of aconitic acid on C. elegans appeared entirely controlled by pH.