On the Valorization of <i>Arbutus unedo</i> L. Pomace: Polyphenol Extraction and Development of Novel Functional Cookies
Hugo Duarte,
Ceferino Carrera,
María José Aliaño-González,
Rocío Gutiérrez-Escobar,
María Jesús Jiménez-Hierro,
Miguel Palma,
Ludovina Galego,
Anabela Romano,
Bruno Medronho
Affiliations
Hugo Duarte
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Ceferino Carrera
Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
María José Aliaño-González
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Rocío Gutiérrez-Escobar
IFAPA Rancho de la Merced, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Junta de Andalucía, Cañada de la Loba, 11471 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain
María Jesús Jiménez-Hierro
IFAPA Rancho de la Merced, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Junta de Andalucía, Cañada de la Loba, 11471 Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Spain
Miguel Palma
Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, 11510 Cadiz, Spain
Ludovina Galego
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Anabela Romano
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
Bruno Medronho
MED—Mediterranean Institute for Agriculture, Environment and Development, CHANGE—Global Change and Sustainability Institute, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia, Universidade do Algarve, Campus de Gambelas, Ed. 8, 8005-139 Faro, Portugal
The fruits of Arbutus unedo L. have a crimson colour and are enriched with remarkable concentrations of bioactive compounds such as anthocyanins and polyphenols. These fruits are commonly used in the production of a Portuguese Protected Geographical Indication distillate called “Aguardente de Medronho”. During this process, a solid pomace is generated and presently discarded without valuable applications. In this work, two strategies have been developed for the valorisation of A. unedo pomace. The first approach considers the extraction of polyphenols from this by-product through the optimization of an ultrasound-assisted method using a Box-Behnken design coupled with response surface methodology. The results indicate that the temperature and the percentage of methanol, along with their interaction, significantly influence the total concentration of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity of the extracts obtained. The optimal conditions identified consider the extraction of 0.5 g of sample with 20 mL of a solvent containing 74% MeOH (aq), at a pH of 4.8, maintained at 70 °C for 15 min. On the other hand, the second valorisation strategy considered the use of A. unedo pomace in the development of functional cookies. The incorporation of 15–20% pomace in the cookie formulation was well-received by consumers. This incorporation results in an intake of ca. 6.55 mg of polyphenols per gram of cookie consumed, accompanied by an antioxidant activity of 4.54 mg Trolox equivalents per gram of cookie consumed. Overall, these results encourage the employment of A. unedo pomace either as a reliable source of extracts enriched in polyphenols or as a nutraceutical active ingredient in functional cookies, thereby positively impacting human health.
