Extraction of weak hydrophobic sulforaphane from broccoli by salting-out assisted hydrophobic deep eutectic solvent extraction

•Salting-out assisted DESs extraction method was developed for extraction SFN.•N8881Cl-EG DES showed excellent extraction performance of SFN.•Salting-out effect could effectively improve extraction efficiency of SFN.•Hydrogen-bond acceptor ability of DES is helpful for extracting SFN.•vdW and electrostatic interactions are the main interaction between DES and SFN.