Investigation of using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) for the extraction of bioactive compounds from Aronia melanocarpa fruit.

In this study, for the extraction of polyphenolic compounds found in high amounts in aronia fruit, three different extraction methods (classical, ultrasound, and ultrasonic), three different traditional solvents (water, ethanol, acidified 80% methanol) as well as five different natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) were used. Color indices as L*, a*, b*, C*, and H° values, total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA), total antioxidant capacity (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid, and ferric ion reducing antioxidant potential assays), and phenolic compounds of the aronia fruit extracts were analyzed. There were significant differences in the measured parameters depending on the extraction method and solvent type. Extracts in ultrasound and classical extraction had similar and higher TPC than those in ultrasonic extraction. The highest TFC (66.87 mg of QE/g) was determined in the extracts obtained by ultrasound-assisted extraction, and the highest TMA content (1551.08 mg of Cyn-3-glu/kg) was determined in the extracts by ultrasonic extraction. In the statistical evaluations, the highest average TPC (66.71 and 60.97 mg of GAE/g, respectively) was determined in the aronia extracts prepared with choline chloride:acetic acid and choline chloride:citric acid. Using NADES increased the TPC, and TFC while providing results close to methanol in the TMA content. Based on these results, better results will be obtained using these solvents in obtaining extracts used in the production of functional foods in the food industry with high TPC, TFC, and monomeric anthocyanin content. The present study shows the potential for creating ecofriendly solvents with enhanced extraction capabilities compared to classical solvents for the extraction of bioactive compounds from aronia fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]