Applied Sciences (Nov 2021)

Bioactivity Potential of Industrial Sunflower Meal Ethanol-Wash Solute Obtained as Waste from Protein Isolation Process

  • Petya Ivanova,
  • Ivan G. Ivanov,
  • Yulian Tumbarski,
  • Hristo Kalaydzhiev,
  • Ivayla N. Dincheva,
  • Vesela I. Chalova

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app112211007
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 22
p. 11007

Abstract

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Industrial sunflower meal is rich in secondary metabolites, which negatively influence the quality and functional properties of respective protein isolates. To reduce their quantity, sunflower meal was subjected to a four-step treatment with 75% aqueous ethanol solution. The ethanol-wash liquids were collected, concentrated, and freeze-dried to prepare powdery sunflower meal ethanol-wash solute (SEWS). Otherwise considered waste from the main process of protein isolation, the SWES was turned into a novel product containing macrocomponents, microelements, and bioactive compounds. It was found to be rich in carbohydrates (62.14%), lipids (7.73%), and bioactive compounds such as phenols (16.38%) and flavonoids (4.41%). Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–MS) analyzes revealed prevalence of sucrose (14.01%), linoleic acid (12.10%), and chlorogenic acid (85.41%) based on total ion current (TIC) of polar, nonpolar, and phenolic compounds, respectively. The SEWS was found to be rich in microelements with iron (259.02 mg/kg) and copper (109.36 mg/kg) being the highest amounts. The product contained 0.10 mg/kg selenium. Scavenging of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals increased with the increase in SEWS concentrations and reached 52.3% and 69% for 0.05% SEWS when dissolved in water and 70% ethanol, respectively. The highest hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (52.4%) was achieved at 0.1% SEWS. For all studied concentrations (0.005% to 0.1%), the SEWS exhibited a higher inhibition capacity than mannitol, which was used as a positive control. The SEWS demonstrated inhibiting properties against Gram (+) Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens PM-YT and Fusarium moniliforme ATCC 38932 fungus. The obtained results outline the SEWS as a natural product with bioactive properties that might be useful in the agriculture, food, and nutraceutical industries.

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