Food-grade Solvents Research Articles

Influence of hydrothermal processing conditions on the functionality of Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts

Microalgae are an underutilized biomass source of nutritionally valuable extracts with promising texturizing capacities that can be used for food applications. This also requires the development of environmentally friendly extraction technologies. Hydrothermal processing was used in this study to investigate the effects of temperature (up to 225 °C) on the extracts from the diatom Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The relationship between protein and polysaccharides' presence and functionality was assessed, based on structure, composition, bioactivity, and rheological behavior. An optimal condition of non-isothermal processing at 120 °C resulted in the extract with gelling capacity (at 20 % w/w extract concentration). This extract is rich in carbohydrates in oligosaccharide form (9 g per 100 g extract) and protein (16 g per 100 g extract), which indicates nutritional relevance and possible prebiotic effects. Moreover, after an additional purification step with food-grade solvents, this extract was able to gel at 5 % w/w concentration. These combined with its significant antioxidant activity (over 100 μmol Trolox equivalents per gram of extract in all studied conditions, using the ABTS method) point towards new possibilities for the application of Phaeodactylum tricornutum extracts in novel clean-label vegan foods. Overall, these findings suggest that the novel approach proposed in this work, based on hydrothermal processing, is feasible and compatible with the need for the application of simple purification steps with food-grade solvents. Furthermore, it reinforced the relevance of the carbohydrate fractions and carbohydrate-protein interactions from microalgae.

An eco-friendly and up-scalable approach to extract canthaxanthin from yeast cells

Canthaxanthin is a naturally occurring ketocarotenoid pigment present in plants, algae, bacteria and some fungi. In addition to its coloring role, canthaxanthin has an excellent antioxidant activity, thus having additional market demands in the feed, food, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries. Canthaxanthin can be directly isolated from its natural source or produced by chemical synthesis, but these strategies either result in low yields, or use hazardous solvents, respectively. Therefore, the biosynthesis of canthaxanthin using microbial cell factories is becoming an advantageous alternative. Furthermore, microbial synthesis represents an economic and sustainable approach as it enables the use of agriculture and industrial wastes as substrates. In this work, the extraction, recovery and purification of canthaxanthin from modified yeasts using food grade solvents and up-scalable methodologies was studied. The resulting canthaxanthin-enriched extract was characterized (UV-Vis, PXRD and SEM) and quantified (HPLC), resulting in a canthaxanthin purity of 43.7 % (w/w).

Rhus coriaria L. in tradition and innovation like natural dye.

Nowadays, secondary raw materials (SRM) obtained from plant matrices are of great interest for circular economy, suitable for sustainable measures to reduce environmental impact. This work focused on the extraction, characterization and quantification of compounds obtained from leaves and fruits of the Sicilian sumac, Rhus coriaria L. and their application as natural dyes on textile fibres. Extractions were performed with Extractor Naviglio®, maceration and ultrasound assisted methods and food-grade solvents (aqueous and hydroalcoholic) to evaluate the yields for dye compounds. The presence of colouring molecules was evaluated by UV-Vis spectrophotometer, and the extracts selected for colouring were quantified and characterized by LC-MS. The results showed that Extractor Naviglio® achieved the best extraction yield, and the ethanol-water mixture extracts had a higher amount of total phenolic compounds (TPC) and a higher content of total colouring compounds (TCC). These extracts were selected for subsequent applications as dyes for linen, cotton and wool. The chemical profile of selected extracts was rich in compounds such as gallotannin and anthocyanin class. Fibre dyeing was verified by recording CIELAB colouring coordinates. The results suggest that the dyes obtained from R. coriaria can be of great interest for artisanal and industrial processes, in accordance with environmental sustainability.

Application of Different Animal Fats as Solvents to Extract Carotenoids and Capsaicinoids from Sichuan Chili.

Inspired by the proved dissolving power of vegetable oils for non-polar and low-polar natural compounds, animal fats with triglycerides as the major components were investigated as food-grade solvents in this study for the simultaneous extraction of carotenoids and capsaicinoids from Sichuan chili. The dissolving power of lard, beef tallow, chicken fat and basa fish oil in the extraction of er jing tiao chili was firstly compared, where animal oils with worse extraction ratios for carotenoids (0.79 mg/g in average) performed better for the extraction of capsaicinoids (0.65 mg/g in average). Furthermore, the solvent effect of animal fats on the oleo-extracts was evaluated in terms of fatty acid composition, oil quality indexes, crystal polymorphism, melting and crystallization behaviors, where no significant differences were observed between animal fats before and after extraction. The oxidative stability of animal fats could be 1.02- up to 2.73-fold enhanced after extraction and the pungency degree could reach the same spicy level as commercial hotpot oil. In addition, the Hansen solubility parameters of solvents and solutes were predicted for further theoretical miscibility study, which helps to make a better comprehension of the dissolving mechanism behind such oleo-extraction. Overall, animal fats demonstrated their considerable solvent power for extracting carotenoids and capsaicinoids simultaneously from Sichuan chili, which showed significant potential for developing a novel Sichuan spicy hotpot oil with enhanced flavor and stability.

Unlocking functional lipid ingredients from algae by food-grade biosolvents and ultrasound-assisted extraction for nutritional applications

Algae are a sustainable source of healthy and functional lipids. The production of extracts suitable for food and nutraceutical industries requires food-grade solvents, which may have low lipid extraction yield and/or purity. This work aimed to assess the efficiency of biosolvents ethanol (E) and ethyl acetate (EA) in obtaining food-grade lipid ingredients from an algae blend, Fucus vesiculosus, Ulva sp., and Chlorella vulgaris, in comparison with the Folch method. Ultrasound (UAE) was assayed to enhance the biosolvent extraction. The results showed that the different extraction approaches can significantly influence the extraction yield, lipid purity, and lipid composition, including fatty acid (FA) content. EA and EA + UAE produced high lipid purity (>74%) extracts with high polyunsaturated FA (≤77.5%) and n-3 FA (≤74.4%) contents, despite the lower extraction yield. E + UAE may be used to obtain lipid-rich ingredients from algae blend (57%) and C. vulgaris (91%). All extracts showed anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. This study provides relevant information for the production of food-grade lipid ingredients from algae.

Process optimization for microfluidic preparation of liposomes using food-grade components

This study explores the potential for optimizing a sustainable manufacturing process that maintains the essential characteristics of conventional liposomes using food-grade solvents and components. The focus was comparing the physicochemical, morphological, and interfacial properties of liposomes produced with these food-grade ingredients to those made by conventional methods. It was found that there was no significant difference in particle size (195.87 ± 1.40 nm) and ζ-potential (−45.13 ± 0.65 mV) between liposomes made from food-grade and conventional materials. The manufacturing process for liposomes, utilizing food-grade solvents and components, was optimized through the application of Plackett-Burman design and response surface methodology. This approach helped identify key parameters (soy lecithin, β-sitosterol, W/O ratio) and their optimal values (3.17 g, 0.25 g, 1:2.59). These findings suggest that it is possible to enhance the use of liposomes as an effective and safe delivery system in the food industry, adhering to the strict guidelines set by regulatory agencies.

Bioprospecting of Vernonia cinerea for nutraceutical and homemade first aid remedies: a review update

Vernonia cinerea (VC) is a ubiquitous weed in tropical and subtropical regions. It was traditionally used to treat health issues by various cultures, but today little is known to the new generation about its high medicinal values, how to use it as a quick first aid, and its commercialization potential. A literature search found that VC has been extracted using various kinds of solvents for different polarities of phytochemical extraction. Interestingly, the food-grade solvents such as ethanol and water were found to be suitable to extract the active ingredients from VC for major therapeutic applications such as antioxidants, anti-diabetic, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, and anti-microbial as well as being a wound healer, hepato-protective, and ease the smoking withdrawals symptoms. The spray-dried water extracts are currently innovated into different forms of nutraceutical products. The high toxicity threshold allows the utilisation of VC as home remedies in the form of fresh, dried, and water extracts for oral intake, while the extracts using common alcohol/spirit and oil can be made for topical applications. This review aimed to give an insight into the commercialization potential of VC as a nutraceutical product and the reestablishment of homemade first-aid remedies for various health conditions especially among the people in rural areas.

Solubility evaluation of palm-based Mono-diacylglycerols (MDAGs) in food grade solvent (hexane, ethanol, acetone, water) using QSPR model approach

Mono-diacylglycerols (MDAGs) are emulsifiers widely used in the food industry. MDAGs based on refined bleached deodorized palm stearin (RBDPS) have not been widely developed. MDAGs have been synthesized using glicerolysis between RBDPS and glycerols. Due to their low solubility in food-grade solvents (hexane, ethanol, acetone, and water), it has been difficult to purify or fractionate MDAGs only by a simple method. This research attempted to develop a model of MDAGs solubility in food-grade solvents and understand the parameters that influence the solubility of MDAGs in food-grade solvents. The process used a combination of experimental data collection and quantitative structure–property relationship (QSPR) models. The QSPR model for MDAGs solubility in a single and binary solvent demonstrated that the descriptors of Δ dipole moment (Δµ), E HOMO, E LUMO, electronic energy, gap energy HOMO-LUMO (ΔE1, ΔE2) softness (S), electrophilicity index (ω), and electron transfer (ΔN) have a significant impact in determining the solubility of MDAGs. Both the single and the binary solvents solubility models can give satisfactory prediction results: the square of the correlation coefficient (R2pred) was 0.933 and 0.948, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was 0.075 and 0.031, respectively, for the whole data set. In addition, this paper provided a new and effective method for predicting the solubility of MDAGs in single and binary food-grade solvent systems.

Lutein from Microalgae: An Industrial Perspective of Its Production, Downstream Processing, and Market

Lutein, a yellow xanthophyll carotenoid, is increasingly recognized for its nutraceutical benefits, particularly in protecting the retina’s macula from age-related degeneration. Microalgae are a promising source of lutein, which can be a primary product or a coproduct in biorefineries. Certain microalgae exhibit lutein levels (up to 1.7%) surpassing those of common dietary sources like kale, spinach, and egg yolk (approximately 0.7–0.9%). Predominantly associated with photosystem II’s light-harvesting complex, lutein is crucial in photosynthesis and cellular defense. However, being quantitatively minor among cellular constituents, lutein necessitates specialized processing for efficient extraction. Although ubiquitous in microalgae, it is not as easily inducible as β-carotene and astaxanthin in Dunaliella salina and Haematococcus pluvialis, respectively. Currently, microalgal lutein production predominantly occurs at the bench scale, presenting challenges in scaling up. Factors like culture medium significantly influence biomass and lutein yields in industrial production, while downstream processing requires cost-effective, food-grade solvent extraction techniques. This review delves into contemporary methods and innovative progress in microalgal lutein production, emphasizing industrial-scale processes from biomass cultivation to final product formulation. A conceptual industrial process proposed in this review shows that two 10 m3 photobioreactors could produce 108 kg dry mass for Chlorella minutissima, which can be processed into approximately 616 g of lutein extract, or over 6000 capsules of finished nutraceutical daily. Despite lutein production via microalgae being in nascent stages at large scales, existing research provides a solid foundation for well-informed scale-up endeavors.

HPLC-MS/MS Phenolic Characterization of Olive Pomace Extracts Obtained Using an Innovative Mechanical Approach.

Olive pomace results from the production of olive oil. Even if olive pomace represents a potential environmental problem, it contains phenolic compounds, which are widely recognized for their beneficial properties for human health. In this study, an innovative and sustainable technological approach to extract phenolic compounds from fresh olive pomace, based on food-grade solvent instead of those usually adopted, is investigated. Characterization and shelf-life evaluation of the hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the procedure developed for different industrial purposes were also carried out. The phenolic fractions of the different samples were studied with the Folin-Ciocâlteu method to quantify that the total reducing molecules and HPLC-MS/MS analysis was used to define the profile through the identification and quantification of 42 compounds, belonging to five chemical families. Regarding shelf-life, the hydroalcoholic extract showed no significant reduction in phenolic content, for both instrumental evaluations, retaining most of the phenolic compounds present in the raw material; negative attributes were not perceived by sensory evaluation. Thus, these lab-scale results can be the starting point to develop a procedure that is suitable for a real olive mill, representing a valorization strategy in a circular economy and the perspective of new business models.

Extraction, foam-mat drying, and physicochemical analysis of Indonesian black glutinous rice (Oryza sativa L. var glutinosa) anthocyanins

Anthocyanins are water-soluble flavonoid that gives a purplish-blue colour to black glutinous rice. Anthocyanins can be degraded by high temperature (>65ᵒC), oxygen, and light during storage. Foam-mat drying is expected to maintain anthocyanins from degradation and prolong their shelf life. This research aimed to obtain the optimum condition for anthocyanins extraction and foam-mat drying with the physicochemical evaluation of anthocyanins extract. The extraction process was done by the maceration method using food-grade solvents, water+citric acid and water, at four different times (6, 18, 24, and 48 hrs). Ethanol+citric acid were used as a control. The results showed that extraction using water+citric acid solvent for 48 hrs yielded higher total anthocyanins content (2.15±0.03 mg/g rice) than using water solvent (0.70±0.01 mg/g rice). Production of anthocyanins powder was carried out using the foam-mat drying method with the variation of maltodextrin (10 and 20%) and egg white (7.5, 10, and 20%) as the encapsulant and foaming agent. The highest anthocyanins content (0.45±0.06 mg/g powder) was obtained from water+citric acid extract mixed with 10% maltodextrin and 7.5% egg white. The solubility of its powder was acceptable (96.23±0.67%), and the water activity fulfilled the water activity standard of the powder drinks (0.33±0.00). In conclusion, the most optimum condition for anthocyanins extraction was using water+citric acid for 48 hrs and foam-mat drying using 10% maltodextrin and 7.5% egg white.

Astaxanthin Isomers: A Comprehensive Review of Isomerization Methods and Analytic Techniques.

The presence of multiple conjugated double bonds and chiral carbon atoms endows astaxanthin with geometric and optical isomers, and these isomers widely exist in biological sources, food processing, and in vivo absorption. However, there remains no systematic summary of astaxanthin isomers regarding isomerization methods and analytic techniques. To address this need, this Review focuses on a comprehensive analysis of Z-isomerization methods of astaxanthin, including solvent system, catalyst, and heat treatment. Comparatively, high-efficiency and health-friendly methods are more conducive to put into practical use, such as food-grade solvents and food-component catalysts. In addition, we outline the recent advances in analysis techniques of astaxanthin isomers, as well as the structural characteristics reflected by various methods (e.g., HPLC, NMR, FTIR, and RS). Furthermore, we summarized the related research on the safety evaluation of astaxanthin isomers. Finally, future trends and barriers in Z-transformation and analysis of astaxanthin isomers are also discussed.

Food-grade phytosome vesicles for nanoencapsulation of labile C-glucosylated xanthones and dihydrochalcones present in a plant extract matrix-Effect of process conditions and stability assessment.

Phytosomes consist of a phytochemical bound to the hydrophilic choline head of a phospholipid. Their use in food products is gaining interest. However, literature on the use of food-grade solvents, crude plant extracts as opposed to pure compounds, and unrefined phospholipids to prepare phytosomes is limited. Furthermore, studies on compound stability are lacking. This study aimed to develop nano-phytosome vesicles prepared from inexpensive food-grade ingredients to improve the stability of polyphenolic compounds. Cyclopia subternata extract (CSE) was selected as a source of phenolic compounds. It contains substantial quantities of C-glucosyl xanthones, benzophenones, and dihydrochalcones, compounds largely neglected to date. The effect of process conditions on the complexation of CSE polyphenols with minimally refined food-grade fat-free soybean lecithin (PC) was studied. The PC:CSE ratio, sonication time, and reaction temperature were varied. This resulted in phytosomes ranging in vesicle size (113.7-312.7 nm), polydispersity index (0.31-0.48), and zeta potential (-55.0 to -38.9 mV). Variation was also observed in the yield (93.5%-96.0%), encapsulation efficiency (3.7%-79.0%), and loading capacity (LC, 1.3%-14.7%). Vesicle size and LC could be tailored by adjusting the sonication time and PC:CSE ratio, respectively. Chemical interaction between the lipid and the phenolic compounds was confirmed with nuclear magnetic resonance. Phytosomal formulation protected the compounds against degradation when freeze-dried samples were stored at 25 and 40°C for 6 months at low relative humidity. The study provided valuable information on the importance of specific process parameters in producing food-grade phytosomes with improved phenolic stability.

Harnessing the Bioactive Potential of Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) Kuntze: Insights into Enzyme Inhibition and Phytochemical Profile.

This study assessed the halophyte species Limonium spathulatum (Desf.) as a possible source of natural ingredients with the capacity to inhibit enzymes related to relevant human health disorders and food browning. Extracts using food-grade solvents such as water and ethanol were prepared by maceration from dried L. spathulatum leaves. They were evaluated for in vitro inhibition activity of enzymes such as acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-glucosidase, tyrosinase and lipase, related to Alzheimer's disease, type-2-diabetes mellitus, skin hyperpigmentation, and obesity, respectively. These extracts were also appraised for in vitro acute toxicity on tumoral and non-tumoral cell lines and their chemical composition by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (HPLC-ESI-MS/MS). The extracts were more effective towards BChE than AChE. The best results were obtained with the hydroethanolic and water extracts, with IC50 values of 0.03 mg/mL and 0.06 mg/mL, respectively. The hydroethanolic extract had the highest capacity to inhibit α-glucosidase (IC50: 0.04 mg/mL), higher than the positive control used (acarbose, IC50 = 3.14 mg/mL). The ethanol extract displayed the best inhibitory activity against tyrosinase (IC50 = 0.34 mg/mL). The tested samples did not inhibit lipase and exhibited low to moderate cytotoxic activity against the tested cell lines. The hydroethanolic extract had a higher diversity of compounds, followed by the ethanol and water samples. Similar molecules were identified in all the extracts and were mainly hydroxybenzoic acids, hydroxycinnamic acids, and flavonoids. Taken together, these results suggest that L. spathulatum should be further explored as a source of bioactive ingredients for the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical industries.

Green ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive compounds of babassu (Attalea speciosa) mesocarp: Effects of solid-liquid ratio extraction, antioxidant capacity, and antimicrobial activity

Babassu mesocarp (Attalea speciosa, Family: Arecaceae) is a by-product of kernel oil manufacture, reported as a rich source of phenolic compounds of biotechnology potential due to its anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties. In this work, were investigated a greener protocol to maximize the recovery of bioactive compounds by Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) using ethanol as a food-grade solvent, purposing future applications in foods. Moreover, the effect of solid/liquid ratio (1:4, 1:10, and 1:25 w/v) on extraction was also evaluated. Results showed extracts with 1.2 g of mesocarp with 30 mL ethanol 94% (1:25 ratio w/v), for 20 min, at 20°C, yields high values of Total Phenolic Contents (TPC: 5124.86 ± 350.13 mg GAE/100 g), flavonoids (TFC: 477.45 ± 23.07 mg QE/100 g), antioxidant capacity (FRAP: 4037.56 ± 187.26 µmol TEAC/100 g, DPPH• remaining from 10 to 38% after stabilization). Moreover, the DPPH• assay also suggests that each solid-liquid ratio recovers antioxidant compounds able to react with DPPH by differential Kinect, which can conveniently favor usability and enhance oxidative stability in food applications. For example, the extract obtained by the 1:4 ratio reacted very fast with DPPH• (less than 1 min), while on the 1:25 ratio, the stabilization of DPPH• is slower, taking more than 120 min. For the first time, raw babassu mesocarp ethanolic extract inhibited Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and S. Enteritidis activity, as shown by Disk-diffusion assay. This study indicated that Ultrasound-assisted technology could be used as a greener protocol to recover high amounts of polyphenols from babassu mesocarp using food-grade solvents with antioxidant and antimicrobial potential.

Optimization of Ursolic Acid Extraction in Oil from Annurca Apple to Obtain Oleolytes with Potential Cosmeceutical Application.

Ursolic acid (UA) is a plant-derived molecule with relevant anti-aging activity, which makes this molecule a potential functional active ingredient in cosmetic formulations. The main objectives of this study were to optimize the UA extraction process from Annurca apple (AA) with sunflower oil as a lyophilic food-grade solvent using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to determine the potential cosmetic application of the obtained extract. The results of RSM analysis showed a maximum UA yield of 784.40 ± 7.579 (μg/mL) obtained under the following optimized conditions: sunflower oil as extraction solvent, 68.85 °C as extraction temperature, and 63 h as extraction time. The HPLC-DAD-HESI-MS/MS analysis performed on the extract obtained under these conditions, named Optimized Annurca Apple Oleolyte (OAAO), led to the identification of twenty-three phenolic and terpenoid molecules and the quantification of eight of them. To explore the biological properties of OAAO, the in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, resulting in 16.63 ± 0.22, 5.90 ± 0.49, and 21.72 ± 0.68 μmol Trolox equivalent/g extract, respectively. Moreover, the permeation study has shown that OAAO may be considered a safe and functional ingredient in potential cosmetic formulations.

Bioactive potential of tropical highland apple (Malus domestica cv. Anna) crude extract: opportunities for food waste revalorization

BackgroundThe third most produced fruit crop in the world, apples (Malus domestica Borkh) are one of the most accessible and widely consumed fruits, with known benefits for human health. Although they are a temperate crop, apple cultivation has been successfully implemented in lower latitudes. Tropical highland Costa Rican apples (cv. Anna) have shown high total polyphenol content, and cytotoxic effects against human cancer cell lines. However, most reports originate from purified fractions, obtained using methods which are not easily translatable for commercial applications. In this study, we prepared a polyphenol-rich bioactive extract from Costa Rican Anna apples, using food-grade solvents and simple techniques, aiming towards easy translation of the extraction protocols to small local producers.ResultsThe whole apple crude extract (AE) was investigated for its total polyphenol content, general phytochemical profile, cytotoxicity against human breast and lung cancer cells, and regenerative potential in murine skin fibroblast monolayers. The AE showed total polyphenol amounts comparable to that obtained using more refined extractions in previous studies, and exhibited cytotoxic activity against human breast (MCF7) and lung (NCI-H460) cancer cells, and inhibition of cell proliferation in the scratch-wound-healing assay.ConclusionsFood-grade simple protocols were successful for obtaining a polyphenol-rich bioactive extract from Costa Rican Anna apples. The easy-to-implement extraction protocols and biochemical tests could provide a source of bioactive phytochemicals to be used in circular production systems.

The role of plant age and leaf position on protein extraction and phenolic compounds removal from tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves using food-grade solvents

The large availability and considerable amount of proteins (approx. 30 % on dry matter) make tomato leaves attractive as a potential new protein source. In this study, the feasibility of extracting proteins and removing phenolic compounds from tomato leaves using food-grade solvents as function of plant age and leaf position was investigated. Water and 50–50 % ethanol–water were used. We found that most proteins (>70 mg/g leaf protein) remained in the pellet after extraction. The protein purity of the dry matter present in the supernatant did not exceed the original leaf protein content. Additionally, leaf position had stronger effect than plant age on the leaf protein content and extraction yield. Ethanol-water was more efficient in removing phenolic compounds than water. The most phenolic compounds was removed from the top leaves. For future processing, the diversity of leaves has to be considered when striving for full utilization of tomato plants (fruits and leaves).

Suitability of Solvent-Assisted Extraction for Recovery of Lipophilic Phytochemicals in Sugarcane Straw and Bagasse.

Sugarcane is primarily harvested to meet up to 80% of global sugar demand. Recently, lipids recovered from their biomass (straw and bagasse) have attracted much attention due to their possible utilisation in biofuel production but also by the presence of health-promoting compounds as phytosterols (i.e., improvement of cardiovascular function) or 1-octacosanol (i.e., anti-obesity). Although this fraction is commonly obtained through solid–liquid isolation, there is scarce information about how different solvents affect the composition of the extracts. This research work aimed to study whether, in sugarcane straw and bagasse samples, Soxtec extraction with widely used dichloromethane (DCM) would be suitable to recover most of the lipid classes when compared to other available solvents such as food grade ethanol (EtOH) or solvents without regulation restrictions for food and drug applications (i.e., acetone and ethyl acetate). The obtained results allow concluding that sugarcane waxes from straw and bagasse are complex lipid mixtures of polar and non-polar compounds. According to the extraction yield, the best results were obtained with ethanol (5.12 ± 0.30% and 1.97 ± 0.31%) for both straw and bagasse, respectively. The extractant greatly influenced the lipid composition of the obtained product. Thus, DCM enriched the isolates in glycerolipids (mono-, di- and triglycerides), free fatty acids, fatty alcohols, fatty aldehydes, phytosterols and hydrocarbons. On the other hand, EtOH resulted in polar isolates rich in glycolipids. Therefore, depending on the application and objectives of future research studies, the solvent to recover such lipids needs to be carefully selected.

An Endemic Plant of the Mediterranean Area: Phytochemical Characterization of Strawberry Tree (Arbutus unedo L.) Fruits Extracts at Different Ripening Stages.

This work focused on the extraction, quantification, and characterization of bioactive compounds of Arbutus unedo L. fruits, comparing the results obtained from the different ripening states. Extractions were performed by different methods (such as maceration extraction and ultrasonic extraction) and food grade solvents (aqueous and hydroalcoholic solvents) in each of the all ripening states (four states considered, associated with four different colors, i.e., green, yellow, orange, and red). The presence of (poly)phenols was quantified and characterized, and scavenging activity was determined by the Folin–Ciocâlteu reagent and the DPPH method, respectively. The content of bioactive compounds was characterized by LC-MS/MS, such as multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mass spectrometry. The results showed that ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) performed better than maceration extraction; ethanol–water mixture extracts showed a more positive effect than the use of aqueous extracts regarding the content of total phenolic compounds. Overall, the total phenolic compounds in the EtOH:H2O mixture at a ratio of 7:3 (v:v) were higher than that of the other solvents for both extraction methods. Some bioactive molecules were characterized for the first time in the extracts of A. unedo. The chemical profile of the strawberry tree extracts depended on the degree of fruit ripeness. The results suggest that A. unedo fruits may be of great interest for food and nutraceutical applications.