Chapter 11 - Separation, purification, analyses, and preservation of polyphenols

Abstract

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites, naturally found in plants. They are typically known for their antioxidant activity and beneficial impact on health. Extraction of polyphenols from biological matrices is the first step toward their valorization. Many methods of separation (chromatography) are used to separate the polyphenols from the undesirable fraction of the extract. Moreover, the increasing interest in the isolation (e.g., ultrafiltration, nanofiltration) techniques for the purification of polyphenols is mainly due to their potential applications as natural antioxidants in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic industries. Many preservation methods (e.g., drying, encapsulation) are required to maintain their biological activities throughout the process. Finally, and after the recovery of polyphenols and their purification, colorimetric, chromatographic and spectrometric methods (LC-MS, GC-MS-MS) are used to identify and characterize polyphenols. This chapter discusses the methodologies used for separation, purification, analysis, and preservation of polyphenols.