Extraction, Characterization, and Applications of Pectins from Plant By-Products

Anissa Belkheiri,Pascal Dubessay,Gholamreza Djelveh,Guillaume Pierre,Nasser Hamdami,Alina Violeta Ursu,Slim Abdelkafi,Cedric Delattre,Philippe Michaud,Ali Forouhar

doi:10.3390/app11146596

Abstract

Currently, pectins are widely used in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries, mainly as texturizing, emulsifying, stabilizing, and gelling agents. Pectins are polysaccharides composed of a large linear segment of α-(1,4) linked d-galactopyranosyluronic acids interrupted by β-(1,2)-linked l-rhamnoses and ramified by short chains composed of neutral hexoses and pentoses. The characteristics and applications of pectins are strongly influenced by their structures depending on plant species and tissues but also extraction methods. The aim of this review is therefore to highlight the structures of pectins and the various methods used to extract them, including conventional ones but also microwave heating, ultrasonic treatment, and dielectric barrier discharge techniques, assessing physico-chemical parameters which have significant effects on pectin characteristics and applications as techno-functional and bioactive agents.

Highlights

Among the 30% of foods wasted annually, 45% are from fruits and vegetables
The recovery of non-starch polysaccharides from fruit by-products is a promising strategy for the development of natural biopolymers, pectin is currently extracted from citrus and apple wastes [3]
Pectins having a high degree of acetylation (DAC up to 25%)

Summary

Introduction

Among the 30% of foods wasted annually, 45% are from fruits and vegetables. Effective utilization of food wastes protects the environment and shows great potential for the production of functional substances such as bioactive secondary metabolites, essential oils, pigments, enzymes, and non-starch polysaccharides [2]. The recovery of non-starch polysaccharides from fruit by-products is a promising strategy for the development of natural biopolymers, pectin is currently extracted from citrus and apple wastes [3]. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an important crop around the world and is native to Africa. It has been cultivated for thousands of years in many Middle Eastern and South-East

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