Impact of drying method as pretreatment for extraction of bioactive compounds from jambolan (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels)

Abstract Jambolan (Syzygium cumini (L.) Skeels) is an under-explored fruit rich in polyphenols, which are associated with health benefits, such as increasing resistance to oxidative stress, inflammatory processes and cardiovascular, and platelet functions. These polyphenols can be obtained by extraction, but an efficient standard method remains a challenge. In this context, this work evaluated the impact of different pretreatments on jambolans to obtain bioactive compounds by aqueous extraction. An Air Circulation Oven (ACO) and Lyophilization (LYO) were used as pretreatments. In addition, the influence of mass, temperature, cycle, and time parameters were studied in the extraction methods used: Percolated Solid-Liquid (PSL), Conventional Solid-Liquid (CSL), and solid-liquid assisted by ultrasound (USL). The extraction yield was from 7.3% (ACO) to 46.3% (LYO), both using the PSL method. In addition, eleven phenolic compounds and six anthocyanins were detected by High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Detector (HPLC-DAD), in expressive amounts of catechin and cyaniding in the LYO sample and, these extracts showed higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. The CSL method was more efficient on ACO samples and PSL on LYO samples. LYO extracts showed higher concentrations of bioactive compounds. Therefore, the use of a drying pretreatment results in extracts with a high antioxidant potential for application in the food, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical markets.