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Assessing factor affecting Iranian Pistachio export due to comparative advantage and share of Iran in international market of this crop is very important. In recent years, pistachio exports has faced many challenges including limitation of aflatoxin maximum of importing countries. In the present study, factors affecting on Pistachio export with emphasis on the role of aflatoxins were evaluated by gravity model. For obtained this goal, the major importing countries pistachio were determined and panel data from the years 1990-2017 were used. The results of gravity model estimation showed that the limitation of aflatoxin, GDP, population and border for selected importing countries has significant positive effect on the export of Iran Pistachio. The result suggested that Iran to maintain it is share in the Pistachio global market, pistachio with high quality and lesser aflatoxin have to be product, as well as, sanitation laws are approved based on international laws could be very useful.

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At present, increasing public awareness of the health and nutritional properties of agricultural products and their products, as well as the effects of chemical toxins and synthetic preservatives, doubles the demand for fresh and chemical-free food preservatives. Froriepia subpinnata is a member of the family Umbelliferae. This plant is native central and northern parts of Iran. Disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration (broth microdilution and agar dilution) and minimum fungicidal concentration were used to evaluated the antifungal effect of Froriepia subpinnata essential oil. The results showed that Froriepia subpinnata essential oil was well able to prevent the growth of fungal strains that cause black and gray spoilage in vitro. The results showed that the inhibition zone diameter (disc diffusion method) for the fungal strains of Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea was 15.50 and 13.30 mm, respectively. The results of the antifungal effect in the well agar method showed a much greater inhibition zone diameter than the disc diffusion method. The minimum fungicidal concentration for Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea was 64 and 256 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum fungicidal concentration of Froriepia subpinnata essential oil was higher for Aspergillus niger and Botrytis cinerea strains than the minimum inhibitory concentration.

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Much chemical fungicides are used to control fungal infections. However, several of these fungicides are detrimental for human health. Today, the use of natural ingredients such as essential oils and extracts plant with the least side effects has been of great interest to researchers. Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) is a belongs to Myrtaceae  family and a herb widely growing in Iran. The aim of this study was to examine the Myrtle essential oil to control the fungi (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum) “in vitro”. Evaluation of the antifungal activity of Myrtus communis essential oil was investigated by Kirby-Bauer, well agar, macro broth dilution and minimum fungicidal concentration methods. The results showed that the inhibition zone diameter (Kirby-Bauer method) for the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 10.60 and 9.70 mm, respectively. The results showed that the inhibition zone diameter (well agar method) for the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 12.30 and 10.50 mm, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum was 64 and 128 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum fungicidal concentration was 512 and 512 mg/mL, respectively.

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Given the rise in the infectious diseases caused by pathogens, identification of medicinal plants and purification of their nutraceuticals can be useful in treating such diseases. In this experimental study, the antimicrobial activity of Dezfuli orange peel essential oil was examined on 3 Gram-negative strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella typhi) and 5 Gram-positive strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Listeria innocua) through agar disc diffusion, agar well diffusion, minimum inhibitory concentration (microdilution broth) and minimum bactericidal concentration. Furthermore, the interactions between the essential oil and chloramphenicol, gentamycin and tetracycline were investigated. The results of disc diffusion showed that the longest and shortest diameters of the growth inhibition zone belonged to B. cereus (21.20 mm) and L. innocua (13.20 mm) respectively. In the agar diffusion test, S. aureus and E. coli respectively had the longest (17.30 mm) and shortest (11.10 mm) diameters of the inhibition zone. The minimum inhibitory concentration was equal to 25, 400, 50, 12.5, 25, 25, 400 and 12.5 mg/ml for E. coli, P. aeruginosa, S. typhi, S. aureus, B. cereus, B. subtilis, S. epidermidis and L. innocua respectively. The minimum bactericidal concentration of the essential oil was greater than 400 mg/ ml for all the strains.

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In this study, the antifungal activity of Boswellia sacra essential oil was evaluated against fungi species causing strawberry rot (Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Rhizopus stolonifer), via well diffusion agar, disk diffusion agar, microdilution broth, and minimum fungicidal concentration methods. Extraction yield, total phenolic and flavonoid contents, and antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging methods) of the essential oil were also determined. The extraction yield of the oil was 1.30% w/w and its total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 69.37 mg GAE/g and 38.40 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of B. sacra essential oil, based on the DPPH- and ABTS-radical scavenging activity, were found to be 57.50% and 48.66%, respectively. According to the results of disk/well diffusion agar tests, B. cinerea and R. stolonifer were the most sensitive (the highest inhibition zone) and resistant (the lowest inhibition zone) fungal species to the B. sacra essential oil, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration and minimum fungicidal concentration were, respectively, ranged from 25-50 and 200-400 mg/ml. Based on the results, the B. sacra essential oil contains bioactive compounds with appropriate antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, and it could be therefore used as a natural preservative agent to increase the shelf-life of various food products.

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Plant essential oils are frequently used as natural preservatives to decrease the toxicity of synthetic fungicides and environmental pollution. This study was aimed to investigate the antifungal effect of Vitex agnus-castus essential oil on Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum causing orange rot. The essential oil of V. agnus-castus was extracted by the hydrodistillation method and the extraction yield was 0.95% w/w. The total phenol and flavonoids content of the essential oil were also measured and the results showed that the essential oil is rich in phenolics (91.74 mg GAE/g) and flavonoids (52.32 mg QE/g). The evaluation of antioxidant activity of the V. agnus-castus essential oil showed that the bioactive compound is able to effectively scavenge DPPH (IC₅₀ = 48.62 μg/mL) and ABTS (IC₅₀ = 40.50 μg/mL) free radicals. The antifungal activity of the V. agnus-castus essential oil was evaluated against P. digitatum and P. italicum, based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, and minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration methods. And P. digitatum was more sensitive to the essential oil and lower concentration of the bioactive compound was able to inhibit the growth of or kill the species. In general, the results of this study showed that the V. agnus-castus essential oil is rich in bioactive compounds with remarkable antioxidant and antifungal activities, and it could be applied as a natural preservative to increase the shelf-life of food products. 

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In this study, the essential oil of medicinal plant Satureja khuzestanica was extracted using hydrodistillation method and its total phenol and flavonoids contents, antioxidant property (based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging and beta-carotene/linoleic acid assays) and antifungal activity against fungi species causing strawberry rot and mold (Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizopus stolonifer) were investigated. Based on the results of the total phenol and flavonoid contents of the essential oil were 87.23 mg GAE/g and 69.33 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil, based on the DPPH radical scavenging, ABTS radical scavenging, and beta-carotene/linoleic acid assays, were 63.29, 58.30 and 51.19%, respectively. The antifungal activity of the essential oil (based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, and minimum inhibitory/fungicidal concentration) showed that B. cinerea was the most resistant and A. niger was the most sensitive fungal species to the essential oil. The minimum inhibitory concentration for Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizopus stolonifer was 50, 100 and 50 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum fungicidal concentration for Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Rhizopus stolonifer was 200, 400 and 200 mg/mL, respectively.

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Almond (Prunus dulcis L.) is one of the most important nut fruits and products, which is commercially grown in vast areas of the world. Almond kernel contains valuable compounds including vitamins, carbohydrates (fiber and soluble sugars), protein, fatty acids and mineral salts. Considering the importance of fatty acids in almonds. this study investigated the fatty acid content of pollen and seed parents and offspring of Shahrood 12 with selective pollinizers using Gas chromatography (GC). Also oil extraction by Soxhlet Elements were measured by atomic absorption method in parents and progeny of crosses. Some quantitative and qualitative traits related to dried fruit and almond kernels were also analyzed. The results showed that the highest amount of kernels weight in progeny obtained from crosses was related to free pollination. The results showed that the highest amount of oleic acid (18: 1) and linoleic acid (18: 2) was observed in MSK84 (75.51%) and shahrood14 (19.20%) pollinizers, respectively. Also, the highest amount of oleic acid with 72% was obtained in the offspring of Shahrood 12 (♀) × Shahrood 14(♂). The maximum amount of linoleic acid was obtained with 18.40% in the offspring resulting from Shahrood 12 (♀) × MSK84 (♂). On the other hand, the highest amount of palmitic acid (9.5%) was found in the progeny obtained from open pollination of Shahrood 12. These three types of fatty acids have the highest percentage among the seven fatty acids measured in the almond kernel. The highest amount of oil was obtained in progeny of mother Shahrood 12 with 54.42% MSK82 and 38.32% in MSK83 also The results showed that among the different genotypes Rate of oil (38.32-54.42%), Iron (85.48-138.53 mg / _{1000 g}), Copper (20.32-47.48 mg / _{1000 g}), Manganese (18.04 -44.67 mg / _{1000 g}).
 

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This study investigated the total phenols and flavonoids content, antioxidant potential (based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods), and antibacterial mechanism (based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration) of ethanolic extract of Mentha aquatica. The extract contained significant levels of bioactive phenolic compounds (total phenol: 88.47 ± 0.32 mg gallic acid per gram of extract; total flavonoids: 39.15 ± 0.25 mg quercetin per gram of extract) with acceptable ability in scavenging DPPH (58.50 ± 0.57%) and ABTS (51.44 ± 0.32%) free radicals. The growth of pathogenic and spoilage bacteria, especially Gram-positive bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis) in comparison with Gram-negative pairs (Escherichia coli and Salmonella enteritidis) was strongly inhibited by the plant extract. In general, Staphylococcus aureus and Salmonella enteritidis were the most sensitive and resistant microbial strains to the ethanolic extract of M. aquatica, respectively. The present study showed that the ethanolic extract of M. aquatica with significant antioxidant and antimicrobial properties can be used to develop new natural preservatives for food and medicinal purposes.

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Plants have always been the main source of food and medicine for humans. Plant extracts have been considered in the food industry as antimicrobials, flavor enhancers, preservatives, and nutrients. Plant extracts are an excellent candidate for the replacement of synthetic compounds that have toxic and carcinogenic effects. In this study, ethanolic extract of Capparis spinosa was extracted by maceration method and the content of total phenols (by Folin Ciocalteu method), total flavonoids (by aluminum chloride colorimetry), antioxidant activity (by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods), and its antimicrobial effect (by disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration) against Enterobacter aerogenesis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus and Listeria monocytogenes, were evaluated. The total phenols and total flavonoids of the extract were 40.28 mg GAE/g and 5.20 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract based on inhibition of free radicals DPPH and ABTS was 52.73 and 58.62%, respectively. The antimicrobial effect of the extract was dependent on its concentration and bacterial type; increasing the concentration of the extract caused a significant increase in the diameter of the growth inhibition halo in disk diffusion agar and well diffusion agar tests. In addition, Gram-positive bacteria (S. aureus and L. monocytogenes) were more sensitive to the extract than Gram-negative strains (E. aerogenesis and E. coli). Also, S. aureus with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 4 mg/ml and a minimum bactericidal concentration of 512 mg/ml was the most sensitive species to the ethanolic extract of C. spinosa. The results of the present research show that the ethanolic extract of Capparis spinosa can be used as a natural additive in various food products.

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In the present study, the hydroalcoholic extract of Seidlitzia rosmarinus was obtained using maceration method and its antifungal effect against fungi species causing orange fruit rot (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum) according to disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration were evaluated. In addition, the content of total phenols and flavonoids and the antioxidant activity of the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus were determined. According to the results of disk diffusion and well diffusion agar tests, the antifungal activity of the extract was dependent on its concentration and P. digitatum was the most sensitive fungal strain to the extract. Moreover, both fungal strains were unable to grow in the presence of 32 mg/ml extract and the minimum fungicidal concentration for P. digitatum was 512 mg/ml. The contents of total phenols and total flavonoids of the extract were 26.19 mg GAE/g and 11.10 mg QE/g, respectively. The results of antioxidant activity showed that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus is able to scavenge DPPH (112.14 μg/ml) and ABTS (103.46 μg/ml) free radicals. In general, the results of this study show that the hydroalcoholic extract of S. rosmarinus plant contains phenolic compounds with antifungal and antioxidant potential.

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The aim of this study was to isolate ethanolic extract from Urtica dioica leaves, and determination of its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. On this point, the ethanolic extract was obtained by the maceration method and its total phenol content, total flavonoid content, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activity) and antimicrobial effect (disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration) against Salmonella typhi, Escherichia coli, Bacillus cereus, and Listeria innocua, were determined. The extract contained 65.42 ± 0.49 mg GAE/g total phenol content and 22.19 ± 0.30 mg QE/g total flavonoid content. The ethanolic extract of U. dioica leaves was able to scavenge DPPH (61.90 ± 0.54%) and ABTS (70.10 ± 0.47%) free radicals. The antimicrobial effect results showed that Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus cereus and Listeria innocua) were more sensitive than Gram-negative ones (Salmonella typhi and Escherichia coli) toward the ethanolic extract. Generally, U. dioica leaves’ ethanolic extract is able to be used as a natural bioactive compound to improve shelf-life of food products.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the chemical and antimicrobial properties of hydroalcoholic extract of artichoke (Cynara scolymus) on fungi (Botrytis cinerea, Aspergillus niger, and Rhizopus stolonifer) causing rot and decay in strawberry fruit after harvesting. Artichoke extract was obtained with water/ethanol solvent and the content of total phenol, total flavonoids, antioxidant activity (in terms of DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging) and its antifungal effect based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration were investigated. The extract contained 47.30 mg GAE/g of total phenol, 35.19 mg QE/g of total flavonoids, and its antioxidant activity was 58.45% and 54.37% in terms of inhibition of DPPH and ABTS free radicals, respectively. The results of disk diffusion agar and well diffusion agar tests showed that Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus stolonifer are the most sensitive and resistant fungal strains to hydroalcoholic extract of artichoke, respectively. In addition, the minimum fungicidal concentration of the extract for Aspergillus niger (the most sensitive strain) was 512 mg/mL. The results of this study show that the hydroalcoholic extract of artichoke can be used as a natural antifungal compound to control the decay of strawberry fruit during storage.
 

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In this study, the ethanolic extract of Humulus lupulus was prepared by the maceration method. Its antimicrobial effect was evaluated against pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter aerogenes) through disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum bactericidal concentration. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were measured by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride colorimetric methods, respectively. The antioxidant activity of the ethanolic extract was also measured by DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods. The highest and lowest inhibition zones in disk diffusion agar (16.9 mm vs. 12.5 mm) and well diffusion agar (17.6 mm vs. 13.9 mm) methods were accounted for S. aureus and E. aerogenes, respectively. Gram-positive bacterial species were more sensitive to H. lupulus ethanolic extract compared to Gram-negative ones. Total phenol and flavonoid contents of the extract were found to be 96.47 mg GAE/g and 28.5 mg QE/g, respectively. The antioxidant effects of the H. lupulus ethanolic extract, based on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, were 58.63% and 66.5%, respectively. Based on the results, the ethanolic extract of H. lupulus could be used as a natural antimicrobial and antioxidant agent to inhibit the growth of pathogenic bacteria and lipid oxidation progression in various food products.

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The aim of this study was to extract Salvia mirzayanii essential oil, and determine its chemical properties and antifungal activity against fungi causing post-harvest rot in apple fruit (Penicillium expansum, Botrytis cinerea, and Alternaria alternata). Total phenol content (by Folin Ciocalteu method), total flavonoid content (by aluminum chloride colorimetric method), antioxidant activity (based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods), and antifungal activity (based on disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration) of the essential oil were determined. The essential oil contained 43.40 mg GAE/g total phenol and 17.19 mg QE/g total flavonoids. In addition, S. mirzayanii essential oil significantly inhibited DPPH (62.70 μg/ml) and ABTS (78.80 μg/ml) free radicals. According to the results of antifungal tests, Botrytis cinerea and Penicillium expansum were the most sensitive and resistant fungal strains to the essential oil, respectively. In general, S. mirzayanii essential oil can be used to control the oxidation reactions and fungal spoilage in food products.
 

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The aim of this study was to investigate the phytochemical analysis and antifungal activities of ethanolic extract of Ficus benghalensis on the growth of fungal strains causing rot in orange fruit during storage (Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum). Total phenol content was evaluated according to Folin-Ciocalteu method, total flavonoid content was evaluated according to aluminum chloride colorimetric method, and antioxidant activity was evaluated based on DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging methods. Various methods (disk diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration) were used to evaluate the antifungal activity of ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis. The amount of phenol and flavonoids in the whole extract was 110.49 mg GAE/g and 62.60 mg QE/g, respectively. Antioxidant activity of ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis based on DPPH and ABTS radical inhibition methods was 48.56 and 57.20 μg/ml, respectively. The results of disk diffusion agar and well diffusion agar tests showed that the antifungal activity of the extract was concentration dependent and the fungal strains of Penicillium digitatum and Penicillium italicum with the lowest and highest diameter of growth inhibition zone, were the most resistant and sensitive species to the extract, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentrations for the above strains were 16 and 8 mg/ml, respectively, and the minimum fungicidal concentrations were 512 and 128 mg/ml, respectively. According to the results, ethanolic extract of F. benghalensis is an important source of antioxidant and antifungal compounds and can be used to increase the shelf life of food products.
 

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In this study, the effect of vine training system and storage time were evaluated on some grape characteristics, such as berry contamination percentage, berry shedding percentage, berry browning rate, titratable acidity, soluble solids, total phenol and the activity of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase enzymes, in order to maintain the quality of grape during storage time. Factorial experiment was conducted based on completely randomized design with two factors of vine training system (khazandeh, pergola and cordon) and storage time (zero, 20, 40 and 60 days after storage) with three replications during 2018-2019. After transferring the fruits to the cold storage with temperature of +4◦C, relative humidity of 85-90% and storage for two months, some characteristics of grape were examined on different days after storage. The results showed that the effect of storage time on berry browning was significant at the level of 1% probability. Also, the effect of interaction between vine training system and storage time on titratable acidity and on the other measured characteristics was significant at the level of 5% and 1% probability, respectively. In general, the results showed that the cordon training system had the best effect in maintaining the characteristics of grape during the storage period compared to other training methods.
 

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The growth of fungal pathogens on the grape fruit causes a decrease in its quality and shelf life. In this study, the antifungal activity of ginger (Zingiber officinale) essential oil was investigated against fungal pathogens that cause spoilage in grape fruit. Ginger essential oil was extracted using hydrodistillation method and the content of total phenol, total flavonoid, antioxidant activity based on the inhibition of DPPH and ABTS free radicals and its antifungal activity against Aspergillus niger, Rhizopus stolonifer and Botrytis cinerea strains based on disc diffusion agar, well diffusion agar, minimum inhibitory concentration, and minimum fungicidal concentration were evaluated. The results showed that ginger essential oil has 89.80 mg GA/g total phenol and 38.60 mg QE/g total flavonoid. Its antioxidant activity against DPPH and ABTS free radicals was 73.45 and 66.53 μg/ml, respectively. The results of antifungal activity showed that A. niger and B. cinerea were the most sensitive and resistant fungal strains to essential oil, respectively, and the diameter of the inhibition zone in the disc diffusion and well diffusion agar methods, the minimum inhibitory concentration, and the minimum fungicidal concentration for the A. niger strain was equal to 13.90 mm, 14.50 mm, 8 mg/mL and 64 mg/mL, respectively. In general, ginger essential oil can be used as an antioxidant and antimicrobial agent to increase the shelf life of agricultural products.
 

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This research examines the efficiency of various methods for extracting active compounds from hibiscus tea (Hibiscus sabdariffa), focusing on osmotic techniques and the application of specific pretreatments including ultrasound and ethanol. Hibiscus tea, known for its high content of anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, possesses antioxidant, antibacterial, and blood pressure-lowering properties, making it a rich source of beneficial medicinal and nutritional compounds. In this study, fresh calyces of hibiscus tea were used for extraction, and the impact of different concentrations of osmotic solutions and ultrasound pretreatment in the presence of ethanol on the extraction yield of compounds was investigated. The results indicate that the combination of osmotic methods with ultrasound pretreatment and ethanol solvent significantly increases the yield of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. The highest amount of these compounds was obtained from the EO50S treatment, which included a 50% sucrose osmotic solution combined with ultrasound and ethanol. This method demonstrated better performance due to the preservation of the antioxidant properties of the extracted materials, especially compared to conventional extraction methods. Additionally, the results of the principal component analysis showed that the methods EO50S, EO40S, and O40S exhibited the highest efficiency in extracting plant active compounds. Overall, the findings of this research suggest that osmotic methods combined with ultrasound and ethanol provide an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for extracting active compounds from hibiscus tea, and could be applied in the pharmaceutical and food industries for extracting beneficial compounds from medicinal plants.