Pulsed Electric Field-Assisted Ethanolic Extraction of Date Palm Fruits: Bioactive Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Physicochemical Properties

Azhari Siddeeg,Xin-An Zeng,Zahoor Ahmed,Muhammad Haseeb Ahmad,Mahr-Un-Nisa Mahr-Un-Nisa,Abid Aslam Maan,Muhammad Faisal Manzoor,Al-Farga Ammar,Nazir Ahmad,Muhammad Kashif Iqbal Khan

doi:10.3390/pr7090585

Abstract

The current study was aimed to observe the influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) on the extraction of bioactive components; antioxidant activity and physicochemical properties of date palm fruit extract (DPFE) as compared to the extract untreated by PEF. The fruit was treated with PEF (frequency: 10 Hz, time: 100 µs, pulses number: 30, electric field strength (EFS): 1, 2, and 3 kV/cm. The results show that PEF has a positive impact on the total content of carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolics by increasing the EFS. DPFE treated with PEF exhibit a strong antioxidant activity as compared to untreated extract, while electrical conductivity, pH values, and titratable acidity were not affected by PEF. The results indicate a notable increase in the volatile components in DPFE treated with PEF at 3 kV/cm. Thus, PEF treatment can assist the ethanolic extraction of DPFE to improve the bioactivity and antioxidative activity. These findings suggest that PEF can be a more suitable technique to enhance solvent extraction on a commercial basis.

Highlights

The date palm (Sukkari variety) is a famous variety grown in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq because of its high economic revenues to buyers and farmers for its high quality [1]
We have shown that Pulsed electric field (PEF) application enhances the extraction and biofunctionalities of date palm fruits juice
date palm fruit extract (DPFE) by PEF has many advantages associated with total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), Total anthocyanins content of DPFE (TAC) and total carotenoids content (TCC) enhancement

Summary

Introduction

The date palm (Sukkari variety) is a famous variety grown in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iraq because of its high economic revenues to buyers and farmers for its high quality [1]. These fruits are good for human health, especially for those with poor heart conditions and suitable for the digestive process due to their high fiber content [2]. Proximate analyses, the antioxidative and chemical composition of many kinds of date palm have been reported [4,5] They are rich in sugar and minerals [6], with a low level of lipids and proteins. PEF as a technique can generate permeabilization of cell membranes

Methods

Results

Conclusion