Influence Of Extraction Conditions Research Articles

Variability in growth and biosynthetic activity of Calendula officinalis hairy roots.

Calendula officinalis is a widespread medicinal plant with a sufficiently well-studied chemical composition. Secondary metabolites synthesized by C.officinalis plants have pharmacological value for treating numerous diseases, and various types of aseptic in vitro cultures can be used as a source of these compounds. From this perspective, hairy roots attract considerable attention for the production of bioactive chemicals, including flavonoids with antioxidant activity. This paper shows the possibility of C.officinalis hairy roots obtaining with 100% frequency by Agrobacterium rhizogenes genetic transformation. Hairy root lines differed in growth rate and flavonoid content. In particular, flavonoids were accumulated in the amount of up to 6.68 ± 0.28 mg/g of wet weight. Methyl jasmonate in the concentration of 10 µM inhibited root growth to a small extent but stimulated the synthesis of flavonoids. The antioxidant activity and the reducing power increased in the roots grown in the medium with methyl jasmonate. The strong correlation of antioxidant activity and reducing power with flavonoid content was detected. The influence of extraction conditions on the content of flavonoids in the extracts and their bioactivity was determined. The potent reducing activity of extracts from hairy roots allowed the production of silver nanoparticles, which was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy.

Green Extraction of Pectin from Sugar Beet Flakes and Its Application in Hydrogels and Cryogels.

Sugar beet flakes, a by-product of the sugar industry, were used as a source for pectin extraction that was performed using conventional citric acid extraction (CE) and two non-conventional extraction techniques-microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE). The influence of extraction conditions was studied for each technique based on pectin yield and galacturonic acid content, and spectroscopic, chromatographic and colorimetric methods were used for pectin characterization. Better results for pectin yield were achieved through CE (20.80%), while higher galacturonic acid content was measured in pectin extracted using PUAE (88.53 g/100 g). Pectin extracted using PUAE also presented a higher degree of methylation and acetylation. A significant increase in the molecular weight of pectin was observed for the PUAE process (7.40 × 105 g/mol) by comparison with conventional extraction (1.18 × 105 g/mol). Hydrogels and cryogels prepared with pectin from sugar beet flakes also showed differences in physicochemical parameters determined by the method of pectin extraction. Hydrogels had higher bulk density values irrespective of the pectin extraction method, and overall lower values of the textural parameters. Cryogels prepared with pectin from CE showed higher values of the textural parameters of hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness, while gels obtained with pectin from MAE and PUAE had higher thermal stability. The results of this study prove that sugar beet flakes can be considered a potential source for pectin production, and the extracted pectin is suitable for obtaining hydrogels and cryogels with physicochemical parameters comparable to the commercial citrus and apple pectin available on the market.

Hot-air drying vs. lyophilization of sugar beet flakes for efficient pectin recovery and influence of extraction conditions on pectin physicochemical properties

This study assessed the influence of drying pretreatment and extraction conditions (type of acid and particle size of plant material) on the yield and physicochemical properties of pectin from sugar beet flakes resulted as by-product of sugar beet processing in the sugar industry. The results indicated that the drying conditions (hot-air drying and lyophilization) affected the extraction yield, the chemical composition of pectin, its color, degree of methylation and acetylation, molecular weight, and its rheological and emulsifying properties. The best results for pectin yield (16.20%), galacturonic acid content (91.19 g/100 g), degree of methylation and acetylation (66.93 and 23.87%), and molecular weight (3.89 × 105 g/mol) were obtained when sugar beet flakes were pretreated by hot-air drying, and the extraction was made with citric acid using plant material with particle sizes of 125–200 μm. This pectin also had high emulsion activity (51.42%) and emulsion stability (88.03%). The FT-IR spectra were similar, while pectin thermal behavior was affected by the drying pretreatment and extraction conditions. The results of this study showed that from this by-product of the sugar industry it can be extracted high quality pectin with rheological and emulsifying properties that are superior to commercial citrus and apple pectin.

From Aloe vera Leaf Waste to the Extracts with Biological Potential: Optimization of the Extractions, Physicochemical Characterization, and Biological Activities.

In the study, the optimization of the extraction from Aloe vera leaf waste was performed via varying solid-to-solvent ratio, solvent type, extraction time, and technique (maceration, heat-, ultrasound-, and microwave-assisted extractions-HAE, UAE, and MAE, respectively). The optimal extraction conditions for achieving the highest polyphenol content are a 1:30 ratio, 70% ethanol, and 30 min of HAE. Total flavonoid and protein contents were significantly higher in the extract from MAE, while total condensed tannin content was the highest in HAE. LC-MS analysis quantified 13 anthraquinone and chromone compounds. The variations in the FT-IR spectra of the extracts obtained by different extraction procedures are minor. The influence of extraction conditions on the antioxidant ability of the extracts depended on applied antioxidant assays. The extracts possessed medium inhibition properties against Staphylococcus aureus and weak inhibitory activity against Enterococcus feacalis. The extracts had stimulative effect on HaCaT cell viability. Regarding the extraction yield, there was a significant difference between the used extraction techniques (MAE > HAE > maceration and UAE). The presented study is an initial step in the production of polyphenol-rich extracts from A. vera leaf waste aimed to be used for the potential preparation of pharmaceutical and cosmetic formulations for the skin.

The Influence of Extraction Conditions on the Yield and Physico-Chemical Parameters of Pectin from Grape Pomace.

Grape pomace is one of the most abundant by-products generated from the wine industry. This by-product is a complex substrate consisted of polysaccharides, proanthocyanidins, acid pectic substances, structural proteins, lignin, and polyphenols. In an effort to valorize this material, the present study focused on the influence of extraction conditions on the yield and physico-chemical parameters of pectin. The following conditions, such as grape pomace variety (Fetească Neagră and Rară Neagră), acid type (citric, sulfuric, and nitric), particle size intervals (<125 µm, ≥125–<200 µm and ≥200–<300 µm), temperature (70, 80 and 90 °C), pH (1, 2 and 3), and extraction time (1, 2, and 3 h) were established in order to optimize the extraction of pectin. The results showed that acid type, particle size intervals, temperature, time, and pH had a significant influence on the yield and physico-chemical parameters of pectin extracted from grape pomace. According to the obtained results, the highest yield, galacturonic acid content, degree of esterification, methoxyl content, molecular, and equivalent weight of pectin were acquired for the extraction with citric acid at pH 2, particle size interval of ≥125–<200 µm, and temperature of 90 °C for 3 h. FT-IR analysis confirmed the presence of functional groups in the fingerprint region of identification for polysaccharide in the extracted pectin.

Influence of Extraction Conditions on Qualitative Composition of Vegetable Oils

The influence of the production conditions for rapeseed and soybean oils obtained by extraction in the system “solid – liquid” on the qualitative composition of the obtained vegetable oils has been studied. The main chemical values (acid value, iodine value, ester value, saponification value) and optical properties (refractometric refractive index and UV-Vis spectroscopy) for rapeseed and soybean oils obtained by extraction using methylene chloride as a solvent from different plant raw materials (grade of grinding is 0.2, 0.5 and 1.0 mm) and mixtures of crushed grain fractions have been determined. It has been shown that the grade of grinding of the raw material affects the quality of the obtained product.

Bioactive extracts from persimmon waste: influence of extraction conditions and ripeness

In this work, a bioactive persimmon extract was produced from discarded fruits. A central composite design was used to evaluate the effect of different extraction parameters and ripeness stages of persimmon fruits on the total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the resulting extracts. Significantly greater phenolic contents were obtained from immature persimmon (IP) fruits. The optimum IP extract with the conditions set by the experimental design was industrially up-scaled and its composition and functional properties were evaluated and compared with those obtained under lab-scale conditions. Both extracts contained significant protein (>20%) and phenolic contents (∼11-27 mg GA/g dry extract) and displayed significant antiviral activity against murine norovirus and hepatitis A virus. Moreover, the extract showed no toxicity and significantly reduced the fat content and the cellular ageing of Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) without affecting the worm development. These effects were mediated by down-regulation of fat-7, suggesting an anti-lipogenic activity of this extract.

Influence of extraction conditions on the conformational alteration of pea protein extracted from pea flour

Plant proteins are becoming of increasing interest, since they are a more sustainable protein source than milk protein. One plant protein of interest would be pea protein. In contrast to milk proteins there has been less research done on extracting native pea proteins. Currently, commercial pea proteins are only available highly denatured and aggregated. There are three commonly used extraction methods on laboratory scale: alkali extraction with isoelectric precipitation, salt extraction and micellar precipitation. Within this study, these three extraction methods next to one modified production process and a commercial pea protein isolate were compared with each other focusing on conformational alteration during the extraction process. Solubility and particle size in combination with charge at different pHs and ionic strength and denaturation temperature and enthalpy change at pH 7 in 0.1 M NaCl and 1 M NaCl have been taken as indicators of conformational alteration. Differences in structure between the obtained protein products were observed. Albumins were lost during precipitation in alkali extraction – isoelectric precipitation and micellar precipitation. Solubility was highest for pH 3 and pH 8. Micellar precipitated protein product formed micelles at low ionic strength and solubility of these could be increased by addition of salt. It has been found, that both steps during the extraction process, solubilisation and precipitation, had an influence on the conformational alteration of the protein. Solubilisation had in impact on the denaturation of the protein. Precipitation had an impact on the protein profile and irreversible or reversible aggregation.

Use of compressed fluids in the recovery of pecan nut cake oil: Influence of extraction conditions on yield and extract quality

Pecan nut cake (PNC) is residual biomass obtained as a result of cold pressing of pecan oil. PNC oil extractions using compressed carbon dioxide (C−CO2) and compressed liquefied petroleum gas (C-LPG) were performed. The influence of extraction parameters such as pressure (15–25 MPa – C−CO2; 1–2.5 MPa – C-LPG) and temperature (20–60 °C – C−CO2; 20–40 °C – C-LPG) on the extraction yields and chemical profile were determined. The higher yields were achieved at 25 MPa / 20 °C (C−CO2) and 1 MPa / 20 °C (C-LPG). The chemical profile of oils is mainly characterized by fatty acids where the oleic and linoleic acids were the majority compounds found in all samples. Contents of squalene and β-sitosterol also were obtained in the oils. The results showed that PNC is interesting biomass for oil extraction and which separation processes using compressed fluids is an attractive option for processing it.

Influence of cultivar and technological conditions on the volatile profile of virgin pistachio oils

The main aim of this work was to characterize the volatile profile of virgin pistachio oils produced from eight cultivars (Aegina, Avdat, Kastel, Kerman, Larnaka, Mateur, Napoletana and Sirora), under different technological conditions (temperature, roasting, use of whole nuts, screw speed and nozzle diameter), and compare it with those of commercial pistachio oils. Terpenes (15.57–41.05 mg/kg), accounting for ~97% of total volatiles, were associated with appreciated sensory properties, with α-pinene as the main volatile (14.47–37.09 mg/kg). Other terpene compounds such as limonene (0.11–3.58 mg/kg), terpinolene (0.00–1.61 mg/kg), β-pinene (0.12–1.20 mg/kg) and α-terpineol (0.00–1.17 mg/kg) were quantified at lower concentrations. Acids, alcohols, aldehydes, esters and hydrocarbons only summed to ~3% of the total volatile compounds. The volatiles content greatly depended on the pistachio cultivar employed. The influence of extraction conditions was also very relevant; in particular, terpenes doubled (28.38–53.84 mg/kg) using whole pistachios for oil extraction, also being incremented by mild processing conditions. On the contrary, higher temperature or roasting decreased the terpene content (~50–25% respectively), and pyrazines appeared (up to 3.12 mg/kg).

Influence of Extraction Conditions on Chemical Composition and Thermal Properties of Chestnut Wood Extracts as Tannin Feedstock

In view of their use as source material for new biobased flame retardants, chestnut wood extracts were prepared using different solvent systems and compared to an industrial extract. The prepared extracts were mainly composed of hydrolyzed products of ellagitannins (castalin, vescalin, and ellagic acid) along with saccharides. The proportions of components strongly depended on the solvent system used for the extraction. Water-based solvents promoted the recovery of ellagitannins (up to 15 wt % of dry raw matter), while the alcohol-based solvents extracted more selectively ellagic acid (up to 47 wt % of dry raw matter). The phenolic composition of the industrial chestnut wood extract completely differed from that of the lab-scale extracts. The industrial extract was mainly composed of gallic acid and nonhydrolyzed forms of ellagitannins (castalagin and vescalagin). Thermal and fire tests performed on chestnut wood extracts showed high char contents and low total heat release, varying from 33.2% to 38.8% and from 1.1 kJ/g to 6.9 kJ/g, respectively. The values mainly depended on the saccharides, ellagitannins, and ellagic acid contents of the chestnut wood extracts. These results highlighted the promising potential of chestnut wood extracts as biosourced FRs.

Influence of extraction conditions on structural and functional characteristics of black cumin protein concentrates and ACE-inhibition in their hydrolyzates

Cold press oils are value-added food ingredients that are increasingly produced. Due to the removal of oil, protein content in cold press deoiled meals substantially increase. Here, we made an attempt to manufacture protein concentrates from cold press meals of black cumin and studied the influence of aqueous (alkali extraction-isoelectric precipitation, AE-IP) and organic (n-hexane) extraction conditions on the structure and functionality of these concentrates. To determine the basic structural attributes, SDS-PAGE and 2D-electrophoresis, DSC, rheological and FT-IR analysis were utilized. Black cumin proteins contained both α- and β-secondary structural elements, and the proteins were potentially glycosylated. This in turn affected their gel-like behavior prior to heating. The presence of a number of high pI proteins was also detected via 2D-electrophoresis. Functional characteristics of the concentrates were investigated based on solubility, water and oil holding capacities, and dynamic surface tension analysis. Deoiled meals contained 22.3% oil, which was only slightly affected by aqueous extraction. Protein content in the meals was approx. 26.5% which increased to 57.7 and 65.8%, after aqueous (AE-IP) extraction and both aqueous (AE-IP) and hexane extraction, respectively. Solubility, WHC, OHC were found to be improved by hexane extraction. Based on DSC analysis, presence of black cumin oil in the concentrates enhanced the thermal stability of the proteins, while black cumin proteins demonstrated considerable surface activity at the air–water interface. Finally upon enyzmatic proteolysis, protein hydrolyzates demonstrated slight angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitory activity. Based on the current findings, deoiled black cumin meals represent a viable source of biologically and technically functional proteins.

Effects of Extraction Conditions on Crude Polysaccharides and Antioxidant Activities of the Lion's Mane Medicinal Mushroom, Hericium erinaceus (Agaricomycetes)

Dietary supplements are important to sustain an adequate level of antioxidants to balance reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo. Hericium erinaceus is one of the rare wood-rotting mushrooms with polysaccharides, which play antioxidant roles in multiple physiological systems of the organism. Can higher polysaccharide content yield higher antioxidant activity? The research on this is scarce. Therefore, the influence of extraction conditions on contents and antioxidant activities of polysaccharide from H. erinaceus was investigated by response surface methodology. Three main independent variables (extraction temperature, time, solid-liquid ratio) were taken into consideration. The extraction and the antioxidant activities were optimized using a Box-Behnken design. Interestingly, the effects of each factor were personalized. Extraction temperature was the dominant factor influencing the polysaccharide contents and antioxidant activities. In addition, the optimal condition to obtain the highest yield of polysaccharide was not in accord with the optimal condition to maximize the antioxidant activities. The effects of every extraction factor on antioxidant activities were various, probably because different components obtained under different extraction conditions had diverse antioxidant mechanisms. This study will help researchers to focus more on the effective components and their antioxidant abilities, rather than blindly pursue the yields of total polysaccharides.

Influence of Extraction Conditions on Ultrasound-Assisted Recovery of Bioactive Phenolics from Blueberry Pomace and Their Antioxidant Activity.

The increase in diet-related chronic diseases has prompted the search for health-promoting compounds and methods to ensure their quality. Blueberry pomace is a rich yet underutilized source of bioactive polyphenols. For these high-value bioactive molecules, ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE) is an attractive and green alternative to conventional extraction techniques for improving purity and yields. This study aimed to assess the impact of USAE parameters (sonication time, solvent composition, solid/liquid ratio, pH and temperature) on the recovery of phenolic compounds from blueberry pomace and antioxidant activity of the extracts. Total phenolic, flavonoid and anthocyanin contents (TPC, TFC and TAC) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging activity were analysed. USAE in 50% ethanol/water was the most efficient, yielding the highest TPC (22.33 mg/g dry matter (DM)), TFC (19.41 mg/g DM), TAC (31.32 mg/g DM) and DPPH radical scavenging activity (41.79 mg Trolox/g DM). USAE in water showed the lowest values even at low (1/40) solid/liquid ratio (7.85 mg/g DM, 3.49 mg/g DM, and 18.96 mg/g DM for TPC, TFC and TAC, respectively). Decreasing the solid/liquid ratio in water or 50% ethanol significantly increased TPC, TFC, TAC and DPPH radical scavenging. With ethanol, increasing the temperature in the range 20–40 °C decreased TPC but increased TFC and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Anthocyanin profiles of water and ethanolic extracts were qualitatively similar, consisting of malvidin, delphinidin, petunidin and cyanidin. These findings indicate that USAE is a method of choice for extracting high-value bioactive phenolics from blueberry pomace. Selective enrichment of different phenolic fractions is possible under select extraction conditions.

Use of green chemistry methods in the extraction of dietary fibers from cactus rackets (Opuntia ficus indica): Structural and microstructural studies

This work aims to compare the development of three green chemistry methods in the extraction of cactus (Opuntia ficus indica) dietary fibers. The influence of extraction conditions (solvent nature: water, lemon juice and ethanol; extraction process: maceration and steam explosion; extraction time: 30 min, 1 h, 3 h, 5 h) on the chemical and structural composition was studied. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy proved that all treatments do not affect the cellulose structure and could induce the reduction of hemicelluloses and lignin content. The steam treatment with lemon juice was the best treatment in term of quality of the fibers extracted. Through X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis, it was demonstrated that this treatment contributed to the destruction of the amorphous phase with preservation of the crystalline phase. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that the microstructure of the sample surface was uniform and contains arranged fibers. Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM) revealed fibers with 80 nm of diameter.

Influence of extraction conditions on the recovery lipids extracted from the dry biomass of duckweed Lemna minor

Previous studies on the composition of lipid content of higher aquatic plants can be found in the literature. The present work aims to study the effect of various solvent extraction systems on the recovery of lipids extracted from the dry biomass of Lemna minor, using the same polar solvent (ethanol) and variating the non-polar solvent as follow: methanol-ethanol, chloroform-ethanol, hexane-ethanol, diethyl ether-ethanol, petroleum ether-ethanol at different volume ratio. The goal is to select a Sohxlet extraction method that shortens the extraction duration and increases the lipid recovery using various solvents. To intensify the extraction process, homogenization was used as a cell disruption method. It is shown that the yield of total lipids is increased by using homogenization from 4.6% to 6.0%. When studying the influence of the solvent system, the highest yield of total lipids was obtained by using hexane-ethanol with a volume ration of 1:1 (8.0% total lipids by dry mass). The yield of lipids recovered from dry biomass of Lemna minor increases by increasing the extraction time. The optimum extraction time was found to be no more than 300 minutes. The composition of the lipid fraction is mainly represented by sterols, fatty acids and triglycerides.

Pilot‐scale supercritical CO2 extraction of edible insect oil from Tenebrio molitor L. larvae – Influence of extraction conditions on kinetics, defatting performance and compositional properties

In view of industrial fractionation processes for edible insects, supercritical CO2 extraction of Tenebrio molitor larval oil was studied. The influence of extraction parameters on defatting of larvae was investigated using a full factorial design. Furthermore, the effect of operating conditions on extraction kinetics, fatty acid composition, and acidity of mealworm oil was evaluated. Pressure, time, and their interaction showed the most significant effects on defatting. Maximal defatting (95%) was achieved at 400/250 bar, 45°C, and 105 min. Extraction kinetics revealed that incrementing pressure increased the solubility of mealworm oil in SC–CO2 enabling faster extraction. Extracted oils contained 72% unsaturated fatty acids, and oleic acid accounted for 42% of total FAME. Oil composition and acidity were found to be affected by extraction parameters showing the highest amount of low molecular and free fatty acids after slow extraction at 250 bar and 65°C. Use of selective extraction conditions enabled simple time‐dependent fractionation and deacidification yielding fractions with tailored fatty acid profiles or facilitating subsequent refining processes, respectively. Defatting performance and oil composition were not substantially different when using hexane as a solvent in comparison to SC–CO2. Mealworm larvae can be effectively defatted using SC–CO2 at high pressure and moderate temperature, yielding two valuable fractions: oil‐ and protein‐rich residue.Practical applications: Mealworm larvae are promising candidates for the inclusion of edible insects in the western food and feed industry due to modest breeding demands, existing rearing knowledge, and high contents of protein and fat. The development of fractionation processes for the production of standardized insect bulk materials and incorporation in feed or food in analogy to soy and other plant raw materials rich in fat and protein will help gain industrial applicability and enhance consumer acceptance. Depending on the processing approach, a defatting step is crucial prior to protein extraction. The results of this study indicate that SC–CO2 extraction is suitable for achieving a high yield of solvent‐free oil and a protein‐enriched, solvent‐free residue at low extraction temperatures. Both fractions can be further refined and purified in order to achieve valuable intermediates for food and feed applications.The SC–CO2 extraction of mealworms yielded highly unsaturated oil and a defatted residue containing protein and chitin. The operating parameters clearly affected the defatting performance and the extraction rate.

Measuring free ellagic acid: influence of extraction conditions on recovery by studying solubility and UV-Visible spectra

AbstractRecent investigations into plant tissues have indicated that the free form of the natural polyphenolic antioxidant, ellagic acid (EA), is much more plentiful than first envisaged; consequently a re-assessment of solvent systems for the extraction of this water-insoluble form is needed. As EA solubility and its UV-Vis spectrum, commonly used for detection and quantification, are both governed by pH, an understanding of this dependence is vital if accurate EA measurements are to be achieved. After evaluating the pH effects on the solubility and UV-Vis spectra of commercial EA, an extraction protocol was devised that promoted similar pH conditions for both standard solutions and plant tissue extracts. The extraction so devised followed by HPLC with photodiode-array detection (DAD) provided a simple, sensitive and validated methodology that determined free EA in a variety of plant extracts. The use of 100 % methanol or a triethanolamine-based mixture as the standard dissolving solvents were the best choices, while these higher pH-generating solvents were more efficient in extracting EA from the plants tested with the final choice allied to the plants’ natural acidity. Two of the native Australian plants anise myrtle (

Fast simultaneous determination of prominent polyphenols in vegetables and fruits by reversed phase liquid chromatography using a fused-core column

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography method with photodiode array detection has been developed enabling the joint determination of 17 prominent flavonoids and phenolic acids in vegetables and fruits. A multi-segmented gradient program using a fused-core column for the separation of several phenolic classes (phenolic acids and flavonoids) has been optimised. The influence of extraction conditions (sample freeze-drying, ultrasound extraction, solvent composition and extraction time) has been also optimised using response surface methodology with tomato samples as a model. Complete recoveries (76–108%) were obtained for the phenolic compounds present in tomato. The developed method provided satisfactory repeatability in terms of peak area (RSD<2.9%) and retention time (RSD<0.2%) both for standards and real samples. Detection limits ranged between 3 and 44μgkg−1 for the detected polyphenols. This method is recommended for routine analysis of large number of samples typical of production quality systems or plant breeding programs.

Characterization of citrus pectin samples extracted under different conditions: influence of acid type and pH of extraction.

Pectin is a complex macromolecule, the fine structure of which is influenced by many factors. It is used as a gelling, thickening and emulsifying agent in a wide range of applications, from food to pharmaceutical products. Current industrial pectin extraction processes are based on fruit peel, a waste product from the juicing industry, in which thousands of tons of citrus are processed worldwide every year. This study examines how pectin components vary in relation to the plant source (orange, lemon, lime, grapefruit) and considers the influence of extraction conditions on the chemical and macromolecular characteristics of pectin samples. Citrus peel (orange, lemon, lime and grapefruit) from a commercial supplier was used as raw material. Pectin samples were obtained on a bulk plant scale (kilograms; harsh nitric acid, mild nitric acid and harsh oxalic acid extraction) and on a laboratory scale (grams; mild oxalic acid extraction). Pectin composition (acidic and neutral sugars) and physicochemical properties (molar mass and intrinsic viscosity) were determined. Oxalic acid extraction allowed the recovery of pectin samples of high molecular weight. Mild oxalic acid-extracted pectins were rich in long homogalacturonan stretches and contained rhamnogalacturonan I stretches with conserved side chains. Nitric acid-extracted pectins exhibited lower molecular weights and contained rhamnogalacturonan I stretches encompassing few and/or short side chains. Grapefruit pectin was found to have short side chains compared with orange, lime and lemon. Orange and grapefruit pectin samples were both particularly rich in rhamnogalacturonan I backbones. Structural, and hence macromolecular, variations within the different citrus pectin samples were mainly related to their rhamnogalacturonan I contents and integrity, and, to a lesser extent, to the length of their homogalacturonan domains.