Optimization of the drying process of standardized extracts from leaves of Spondias mombin L. using Box–Behnken design and response surface methodology

Abstract

The extracts of Spondias mombin leaves were obtained to study the influence of drug amount and ethanol proportion on extract performance. The optimized extract was dried by spray drying, and the contributions were studied by Box–Behnken design to evaluate their influence on drying yield and product properties. The factorial data indicated the importance of both factors to the responses and the optimal conditions employing 10 g of herbal drug, and 80% ethanol was possible to recovery high amount of total polyphenols content (20.47 ± 0.08 g%), suitable dry residue (2.56 ± 0.04 g%), and great extraction efficient (8.10 ± 0.16%). Regarding the study of the drying process, the colloidal silicon dioxide provides spherical and larger particles with medium size 3.44 µm and moisture content equal to 4.15 ± 0.08% resulting in an increase in the physical characteristics of the dry products, such as yield (49.57%), CI (29.9%), and HR (1.43). Overall, the drying conditions (inlet temperature: 140°C and feed flow: 0.6 L/hr) provide lower hygroscopic powders, with yield of 44.66 ± 0.32% and moisture content 3.80 ± 0.06%. It was possible with the use of Box–Behnken design followed by response surface methodology that allowed the achievement of the optimum conditions for drying the standardized extract from leaves of S. mombin, to obtain powder beds with good flow and conservation of their phytochemicals. Practical applications Considering the industrial production of vegetable inputs with antioxidant properties as an activity of high economic and social impact and conditioning the growth of this industrial segment to a vision of sustainable local development, it is essential that initiatives that promote the cultivation and processing of active vegetable inputs be encouraged as well as those that support the technological development of products with greater stability and easy handling. Spondias mombin appears as a species with high potential, as the species has a relevant participation in the rural economy through fruit production, the commercialization, and processing of its fruits. However, its leaves have bioactive compounds with important antioxidant activity, constituting a promising source for obtaining the substances involved in this activity, such as polyphenols. Thus, seeking to obtain products concentrated in polyphenols and improving the physical and chemical characteristics of this material is a promising field, employing widespread technologies in the industrial field, together with mathematical approaches that allow to minimize the amount of experiments and achieve more robust results.