Extraction of bioactive compounds from the flavedo/albedo and from Citrus paradisi Macfad flour subjected to different processes

Abstract

Citrus paradisi Macfad are an excellent source of nutrients and important phytochemicals for a healthy diet. In this context, the knowledge of the chemical composition of foods is fundamental to evaluate the nutrient contents and their health benefits. However, one of the problems related to the consumption of pomelo is the bitter taste that comes from the naringin present in the peel, making it important to develop a flour with a reduced content of bitter taste. The determinations were made in the peel, flavedo, and albedo, in the flour obtained by thermal processing of 48 hours, flour by thermal processing of 72 hours, flour processed and washed in cold water and crushed flour, washed in cold water and processed. To determine ascorbic acid, the titration method was used, and the other bioactives were determined by spectrophotometry. Aqueous, hydroacetonic, and ethanolic extracts were used to determine the total phenolic compounds, total tannins. Antioxidant activity was determined by the photocolorimetric method of the stable free radical DPPH. The flour with 72-hour thermal processing had decreased its concentration of bioactive, and the flour that has been obtained by the peel and albedo before being processed had the highest concentrations; thereof, highlighting discrepant increase of ascorbic acid relative to the other. The carotenoid content showed no significant differences between the samples. Among all treatments, the flour obtained by cold water processing, not being crushed before being processed, had reduced the bitterness of naringin.