Ethanolic extract from Capsicum chinense Jacq. ripe fruits: phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and development of biodegradable films

• Published in: Ciência e tecnologia de alimentos 2021, Vol.41 (2), p.497-504
• Main Authors: SANTOS, Larissa Sousa, FERNANDES, Cassia Cristina, SANTOS, Lauriane Sousa, DEUS, Isabella Pelosi Borges de, SOUSA, Tainara Leal de, MIRANDA, Mayker Lazaro Dantas
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: FOOD SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
• ISSN: 0101-2061; 1678-457X; 1678-457X
• DOI: 10.1590/fst.08220

Abstract Capsicum spp. pepper has great economic and social importance in agribusiness worldwide, mainly associated with its high performance in cookery as a spice. This study aimed at determining the chemical profile of the ethanolic extract from Capsicum chinense Jacq. (EECC) ripe fruits by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and at evaluating its antioxidant activity by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP. Besides, biodegradable films were prepared by incorporating EECC into arrowroot biofilms. LC-MS identified 10 phenolic compounds, a fact that corroborates its high concentration of total phenolic compounds, i. e., 277.62 ± 12.06 mg gallic acid/100g crude extract. High antioxidant activity of EECC was expressed as IC50 values for reagents DPPH (IC50 = 18.04 µg/mL), ABTS (IC50 = 25.33 µg/mL) and FRAP (IC50 = 128.58 µg/mL). Biodegradable films incorporating different doses of EECC (250-1000 µL) were obtained by a casting technique. The higher the EECC concentration, the higher their thickness, color, variable moisture content and the lower their solubility. This study proposes a new use to the plant extract from C. chinense, a natural product that may be applied to the development of biofilms to coat food and retard its deterioration. In addition, antioxidant activity of this type of pepper is also shown.