High pressure and ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds from Santolina chamaecyparissus

The objective of this study was to determine the most adequate process, using a green approach, which ensures maximal exploitation of Santolina chamaecypatissus and attainment of high quality extracts rich in bioactive compounds and with strong antioxidant activity. Two environmentally friendly techniques were applied, supercritical carbon dioxide for isolating volatile compounds and ultrasound-assisted extraction for obtaining extracts rich in polyphenolic compounds

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of phenolic compounds from black elderberry fruit

The objective of this study was to determine the most adequate process parameters, using a green extraction method, which ensures maximal utilization of Sambucus nigra L. fruit. Ultrasound-assisted extraction was applied for the isolation of phenolic compounds from elderberries and for obtaining extracts rich in anthocyanins. The UAE experiment was performed at sonication amplitude in the range from 20 to 100%. The highest extraction yield (47.28%) was achieved at 100% amplitude, while the lowest yield (27.70%) was achieved at 20% amplitude. The UAE extract of elderberry obtained at amplitude of 100% proved to be the best in terms of the content of total phenols and monomeric anthocyanins. According to the obtained results, it can be concluded that the suggested extraction approach has a potential for the production of new pharmacologically-active fractions

Fractionated high-pressure extraction of polyphenols from elderberry by-product

The main focus of this study was to propose new streams to use plant waste, specifically to put on the demonstration of the possibility to implement emerging, green and safe technology into food and pharmaceutical industries in order to enable more economical waste management. For the isolation of valuable compounds from elderberry press cake (by-product left after pressing of juice), solvents and techniques considered as “acceptable” and “generally regarded as safe” in the food and pharmaceutical industries have been applied. Polyphenols rich elderberry press cake extracts were obtained employing a fractioned high-pressure methodology, supercritical fluid (SFE) and enhanced solvent extractions (ESE). SFE-CO2+ESE comprising a first SFECO2 step in order to remove the low polarity CO2-soluble compounds, and a second ESE step in order to extract polar compounds like anthocyanins have been carried out, as well as ESE without any pretreatment. The process kinetics of the extraction and increase of extraction yields (EY) were monitored at time intervals from 10 to 90 min, while EYs of ESE were measured after 30-220 min of extraction. Higher extract yield occurred in extract obtained by SFE-CO2+ESE (28.70%) showing its advantage over ESE. According to the kinetics results for the two-step extraction approach, extraction time of 100 min might be sufficient to achieve the similar final EY obtained after 220 min. HPLC of obtained extracts was utilized for quantification of polyphenolic compounds, showing cyanidin-3-O-sambubioside as a main compound, followed by rutin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside. This work is the first to produce anthocyanin-rich fractions from black elderberry press cake using such high-performance technique

Bioactives preservation of everlasting (Helichrysum plicatum L.) flowers extract by freeze drying method and powder characterisation

Everlasting flowers (Helichrysum plicatum L.), traditionally used for gastrointestinal disorders such as abdominal pain, jaundice, and hepatic disorders are a rich source of sensitive polyphenolic compounds whose preservation is of great importance. A critical point in the development of formulations with bioactive phenolic compounds, especially liquid extracts is their limited stability at elevated temperatures, pH variations, exposure to oxygen, light, and moisture. In order to overcome the extract limitations, drying method could be the optimal technique for preservation of bioactive compounds, in order to obtain stable powders with appropriate characteristics. One of the most advanced techniques based on the phenomenon of sublimation is a freeze drying, which enabling the long-term preservation of heat-sensitive compounds. In this study, extract obtained by percolation method was lyophilized by freeze drying method (firstly extract was frozen at -80 oC for 1 h, then freeze- dried at -60 oC with pressure of 0.011 mbar for 24 h, and finally main dried at -60 oC with pressure of 0.0012 mbar, for an additional hour in order to remove the capillary water residues). The obtained freeze-dried extract (FHE) was characterized by drying efficiency, the contents of total polyphenols-TPC and flavonoids-TFC. The most dominant polyphenolic compounds were determined and quantified by HPLC method. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyzes were also performed. The stability of individual compounds, quantified by the HPLC method, was investigated after 30 days, whereby the sample was exposed to a temperature of 40 °C. Drying efficiency was 94.68%, while TPC and TFC were 113.22 mg gallic acid/g and 28.16 mg catechin/g od FHE, respectively. The most dominant individual compounds were naringenin (22.47 mg/g) and kaempferol (21.47 mg/g) of FHE. The DSC method confirmed the FHE stability, and the SEM analysis confirmed that the extract was successfully encapsulated, without visible deformations. The obtained powder showed excellent stability in terms of the content of the dominant individual compounds, with increasing of their content after 30 days

Multifunctional Pomegranate Peel Microparticles with Health-Promoting Effects for the Sustainable Development of Novel Nutraceuticals and Pharmaceuticals

Recovering the bioactive components from pomegranate peel (PP) in the fruit-processing industry has attracted great attention in terms of minimizing the waste burden, as well as providing a new source of a multitude of functional compounds. The present study aimed to develop a feasible microencapsulation process of PP extract by using pectin and a pectin/2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HP-β-CD) blend as coating materials. Microsized powders obtained by a spray drying technique were examined in terms of technological characteristics, exhibiting high powder yield and desirable moisture content, flowability, and cohesive properties. Assuming that the interactions with the used biopolymers occur on the surface hydrophobic domain, their presence significantly improved the thermal stability of the microencapsulated powders up to 200 °C. The health-promoting effects of PP have been associated with its high content in ellagitannins, particularly punicalagin. The obtained PP powders exhibited strong antioxidant and hypoglycemic potential, while an antimicrobial assay revealed their potent activity against Gram-positive bacteria. Additionally, an in vitro release study suggested that the used biopolymers can modify the release of target bioactive compounds, thus establishing a basis for developing an oral-controlled release system. Altogether, biowaste valorization from PP by the production of effective multifunctional microsized powders represents a sustainable way to obtain novel nutraceuticals and/or pharmaceuticals

Impact of biopolymers use on physico-chemical stability of blue maize extract microencapsulates

Blue maize is a rich source of anthocyanins which could demonstrate many beneficial effects on human health and the prevention of various diseases associated with oxidative stress. Cereal processing could generate a large amount of anthocyanins-rich waste products. However, anthocyanins incorporation into food is a technological challenge due to their low stability. The stability of these extracted valuable bioactive compounds from harmful environmental influences (oxygen, light, water) can be preserved by the encapsulation technique, which could entrap them inside a coating material. Microencapsulation technique could improve bioavailability, mask undesirable organoleptic characteristics of polyphenols and anthocyanins, making them more usable and represented in diet foods and as nutraceuticals. Spray drying process is one of the most widely used microencapsulation technique due to its simplicity, efficiency, and low operational costs. Nowadays, the accent is on the utilization of novel carrier agents with unique properties, such as hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin-(HPBCD). The aim of the present research was to develop and examine microencapsulation systems of blue maize extract using a conventional biopolymer as a maltodextrin, in combination with a novel one, HPBCD, in order to obtain powders with appropriate organoleptic and pharmacological characteristics. The waste product of blue maize processing was used for anthocyanins extraction. Liquid blue maize extract was spray dried with and without adding carrier agents: MD (30%), HPBCD (30 %), and a combination of both carriers (15% MD and 15% HPBCD). The obtained spray-dried maize extracts (SME) were analyzed by the physico-chemical powder properties, particle size, Fourier-transform infrared analysis (FTIR), and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), in order to examine preservation of blue maize extract. The diameter of spray-dried microparticles varied from 2.22 (d10) for SME+MD to 257.14 μm (d90) for SME+MD+HPBCD, respectively, with the mean average diameter d50 ranged from 4.72 to 21.33 μm for all microencapsulated powders. The encapsulation of the blue maize extract with carriers such as MD and HPBCD did not create meaningful changes, which is according to the literature indication for a successful microencapsulation process. Therefore, spray drying process did not change the structure of the polymer matrix and extract according to the FTIR analysis, indicating that the anthocyanins microencapsulation was developed by physical incorporation. DSC analysis signified that spray drying technique developed powders with high thermal stability and up to 200◦C, related to the increasing stability with the addition of biopolymer material. The used biopolymers showed a good impact on the stability of microencapsulates of blue maize extract. Additionally, HPBCD provided an improvement in the physico-chemical characteristics of the powders

Microencapsulated Bilberry and Chokeberry Leaf Extracts with Potential Health Benefits

The aim of the research was to develop microencapsulated powders of bilberry and chokeberry extracts via the spray drying technique. Two biopolymers, pectin alone and in combination with HP-β-CD, were used to preserve the antioxidant, hypoglycemic, photoprotective, and antimicrobial bioactivity of the berry leaf extracts. Moreover, the formed powders were characterized in terms of technological, chemical, and several biological properties. The obtained micro-sized powders (mean average particle diameter from 3.83 to 5.94 µm) demonstrated a process yield of up to 73%. The added biopolymers improved the flowability and cohesive properties of the powders and increased their thermal stability to 170 °C. The total content of polyphenolics in the powders ranged from 323.35 to 367.76 mg GAE/g DW for bilberry and from 186.85 to 227.59 mg GAE/g DW for chokeberry powders; meanwhile, chlorogenic acid was the predominant compound in powders. All samples showed stronger α-glucosidase inhibitory activity (IC50 values ranged from 5.00 to 19.59 µg/mL) compared with the reference standard. The study confirmed that spray drying is a suitable method for the preservation of the polyphenolic-rich extracts, while the addition of carriers has a positive effect on the improvement of microencapsulated powders’ properties