Development of a selective extraction method using pressurized alternative solvents for the fractionation of pomegranate bark compounds (Punica granatum l.)

• Grant number: 22/13565-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Master's degree
• Start date: March 10, 2023
• End date: September 07, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Agronomical Sciences - Food Science and Technology - Food Technology
• Principal Investigator: Maurício Ariel Rostagno
• Grantee: Isadora Lopes de Oliveira
• Supervisor: Maria Elena Ibanez Ezequiel
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas (FCA). Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP). Limeira , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias de la Alimentación (CIAL), Spain
• Associated to the scholarship: 21/13638-0 - Development of active packaging through the extraction of bioactive compounds from pomegranate peel (Punica granatum L.), BP.MS

Abstract

Deep natural eutectic solvents (NADES) are obtained through natural compounds and offer several advantages when compared to other conventional solvents, due to low toxicity, biodegradability, simple preparation, stability, sustainability, adjustable density, and viscosity. Combining these solvents with the pressurized liquid extraction technique, greater extraction of phenolic compounds contained in the pomegranate bark can be promoted. These have antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory capabilities, acting on diabetes and various types of cancers and cardiovascular protection. The objective will be to analyze the best extraction conditions of phenolic compounds from pomegranate bark (±-Punicalagin, ²-Punicalagin, and ellagic acid), using DES combined with high-pressure extraction technique (PLE). For this, first, the identification of the best DES solvent for extraction of phenolic compounds from pomegranate will be studied, using the ultrasound bath, with fixed conditions and varying concentrations of the solvent. Subsequently, the solvent that presents the best yield results will be used to study PLE. In this second study, different temperature and pressure conditions will be evaluated to obtain maximum yield and selectivity of punicalagin and ellagic acid.