Eco-friendly simultaneous extraction of pectins and phenolics from passion fruit (Passiflora edulis Sims) peel: Process optimization, physicochemical properties, and antioxidant activity

• Published in: International journal of biological macromolecules 2023-07, Vol.243, p.125229-125229, Article 125229
• Main Authors: Huo, Dongxue, Dai, Jincheng, Yuan, Siyu, Cheng, Xiaoqing, Pan, Yonggui, Wang, Lu, Wang, Ruimin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Deep eutectic solvents; Passion fruit peels; Pectins; Phenolics; Physicochemical properties; Response surfaces methodology
• ISSN: 0141-8130; 1879-0003
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.125229

The objective of this study was to simultaneously extract passion fruit (Passiflora edulis) peel pectins and phenolics using deep eutectic solvents, to evaluate their physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity. By taking L-proline: citric acid (Pro-CA) as the optimal solvent, the effect of extraction parameters on the yields of extracted passion fruit peel pectins (PFPP) and total phenolic content (TPC) was explored by response surfaces methodology (RSM). A maximum pectin yield (22.63%) and the highest TPC (9.68 mg GAE/g DW) were attained under 90 °C, extraction solvent pH = 2, extraction time of 120 min and L/S ratio of 20 mL/g. In addition, Pro-CA-extracted pectins (Pro-CA-PFPP) and HCl-extracted pectins (HCl-PFPP) were subjected to high performance gel permeation chromatography (HPGPC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), thermogram analysis (TG/DTG) and rheological measurements. Results verified that the Mw and thermal stability of Pro-CA-PFPP were higher than those of HCl-PFPP. The PFPP solutions featured a non-Newtonian behavior, and compared with commercially pectin solution, PFPP solution exhibited a stronger antioxidant activity. Additionally, passion fruit peel extract (PFPE) exhibited stronger antioxidant effects than PFPP. The results of ultra-performance liquid chromatography hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometry (UPLC-Qtrap-MS) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis showed that (−)-epigallocatechin, gallic acid, epicatechin, kaempferol-3-O-rutin and myricetin were the main phenolic compounds in PFPE and PFPP. Our results suggest that Pro-CA can be considered as an eco-friendly solvent for high-efficient extraction of high-value compounds from agricultural by-products. •DESs were exploited for simultaneously extraction of pectins and phenolics from PEP for the first time•Process parameters of pectin and phenolic extraction with proline/citric acid (Pro-CA) were optimized by RSM•The yield of PFPP extract by Pro-CA was higher than that extract by HCl•Pro-CA-PFPP had better thermal and antioxidant properties than HCl-PFPP and commercial pectin