Supercritical Fluid and Conventional Extractions of High Value-Added Compounds from Pomegranate Peels Waste: Production, Quantification and Antimicrobial Activity of Bioactive Constituents
Kaja Kupnik,
Maja Leitgeb,
Mateja Primožič,
Vesna Postružnik,
Petra Kotnik,
Nika Kučuk,
Željko Knez,
Maša Knez Marevci
Affiliations
Kaja Kupnik
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Maja Leitgeb
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Mateja Primožič
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Vesna Postružnik
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Petra Kotnik
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Nika Kučuk
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Željko Knez
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
Maša Knez Marevci
Laboratory for Separation Processes and Product Design, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, University of Maribor, Smetanova ulica 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia
This study is focused on different extractions (Cold Maceration (CM), Ultrasonic Extraction (UE), Soxhlet Extraction (SE) and Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)) of bioactive compounds from pomegranate (Punica Granatum L.) fruit peels using methanol, ethanol, and acetone as solvents in conventional extractions and changing operating pressure (10, 15, 20, 25 MPa) in SFE, respectively. The extraction yields, total phenols (TP) and proanthocyanidins (PAC) contents, and antioxidant activity of different extracts are revealed. TP and PAC recovered by extracts ranged from 24.22 to 42.92 mg gallic acid equivalents (GAE)/g and 2.01 to 5.82 mg PAC/g, respectively. The antioxidant activity of extracts ranged from 84.70% to 94.35%. The phenolic compound identification and quantification in selective extracts was done using the LC-MS/MS method. The contents of different flavonoids and phenolic acids have been determined. SFE extract, obtained at 20 MPa, contained the highest content (11,561.84 μg/g) of analyzed total polyphenols, with predominant ellagic acid (7492.53 μg/g). For the first time, Microbial Growth Inhibition Rates (MGIRs) were determined at five different concentrations of pomegranate SFE extract against seven microorganisms. Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC90) was determined as 2.7 mg/mL of SFE pomegranate peel extract in the case of five different Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria.
