Application of Pulsed Electric Field as a Pre-Treatment for Subcritical Water Extraction of Quercetin from Onion Skin

Enhanced apigenin yield from parsley via synergistic subcritical-water extraction with pulsed electric field and intense pulsed light pretreatments

Subcritical water extraction (SWE) is a nontoxic, environmentally friendly, and rapid extraction method. This experiment aimed to maximize the apigenin content in parsley extracts using pulsed electric field (PEF) and intense pulsed light (IPL) pretreatment prior to SWE (200 °C for 10 min). The highest apigenin content was 21.17 ± 1.11 mg/g at 2.3 kV/cm, 10-Hz, 3 s by PEF pretreatment, and 14.89 ± 0.41 mg/g at 1,200 V, 60 s by IPL pretreatment. Environmental scanning electron microscopy observations and the electrical disintegration index confirmed that physical damage occurred in the parsley leaves after pretreatment. Physical destruction weakens the structure of parsley leaves and increases the apigenin extraction efficiency. This study found that the combined treatment of SWE with PEF and IPL pretreatments at high temperatures could maximize the extraction efficiency of apigenin from parsley. It can be used in the future to extract high-value-added functional materials in the food industry.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10068-024-01760-4.

Pulsed Electric Field (PEF) Treatment Results in Growth Promotion, Main Flavonoids Extraction, and Phytochemical Profile Modulation of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi Roots

This study aims to explore the effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) treatment as a method very likely to result in reversible electroporation of Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi underground organs, resulting in increased mass transfer and secondary metabolites leakage. PEF treatment with previously established empirically tailored parameters [E = 0.3 kV/cm (U = 3 kV, d = 10 cm), t = 50 µs, N = 33 f = 1 Hz] was applied 1-3 times to S. baicalensis roots submerged in four different Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents (NADES) media (1-choline chloride/xylose (1:2) + 30% water, 2-choline chloride/glucose (1:2) + 30% water, 3-choline chloride/ethylene glycol (1:2), and 4-tap water (EC = 0.7 mS/cm). Confocal microscopy was utilized to visualize the impact of PEF treatment on the root cells in situ. As a result of plant cell membrane permeabilization, an extract containing major active metabolites was successfully acquired in most media, achieving the best results using medium 1 and repeating the PEF treatment twice (baicalein Collapse

Key Words

• electroporation
• eutectic solvents
• flavonoids
• hydroponics

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MESH Headings

• Scutellaria baicalensis/chemistry
• Plant Roots/growth & development
• Plant Roots/chemistry
• Flavonoids/analysis
• Phytochemicals/chemistry
• Plant Extracts/pharmacology
• Plant Extracts/chemistry
• Electroporation/methods
• Electricity
• Flavanones/metabolism

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Grants

• UMO-2020/39/D/NZ9/01402 National Science Centre Poland

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Affiliation(s)

Kajetan Grzelka Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Division of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.G.); (A.M.)
Adam Matkowski Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Division of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.G.); (A.M.) Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (J.J.); (A.P.-B.)
Grzegorz Chodaczek Bioimaging Laboratory at Łukasiewicz Research Network—PORT Polish Center for Technology Development, 54-066 Wrocław, Poland;
Joanna Jaśpińska Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (J.J.); (A.P.-B.)
Anna Pawlikowska-Bartosz Botanical Garden of Medicinal Plants, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (J.J.); (A.P.-B.)
Wojciech Słupski Department of Pharmacology, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland;
Dorota Lechniak Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland;
Małgorzata Szumacher-Strabel Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.-S.); (S.O.)
Segun Olorunlowu Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.-S.); (S.O.)
Karolina Szulc Department of Animal Breeding and Product Quality Assessment, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Zlotniki, ul. Słoneczna 1, 62-002 Suchy Las, Poland;
Adam Cieślak Department of Animal Nutrition, Poznań University of Life Sciences, Poznań, Wołyńska 33, 60-637 Poznań, Poland; (M.S.-S.); (S.O.)
Sylwester Ślusarczyk Department of Pharmaceutical Biology and Biotechnology, Division of Pharmaceutical Biology and Botany, Wrocław Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland; (K.G.); (A.M.)

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Separation Methods of Phenolic Compounds from Plant Extract as Antioxidant Agents Candidate

In recent years, discovering new drug candidates has become a top priority in research. Natural products have proven to be a promising source for such discoveries as many researchers have successfully isolated bioactive compounds with various activities that show potential as drug candidates. Among these compounds, phenolic compounds have been frequently isolated due to their many biological activities, including their role as antioxidants, making them candidates for treating diseases related to oxidative stress. The isolation method is essential, and researchers have sought to find effective procedures that maximize the purity and yield of bioactive compounds. This review aims to provide information on the isolation or separation methods for phenolic compounds with antioxidant activities using column chromatography, medium-pressure liquid chromatography, high-performance liquid chromatography, counter-current chromatography, hydrophilic interaction chromatography, supercritical fluid chromatography, molecularly imprinted technologies, and high-performance thin layer chromatography. For isolation or purification, the molecularly imprinted technologies represent a more accessible and more efficient procedure because they can be applied directly to the extract to reduce the complicated isolation process. However, it still requires further development and refinement.

Onion (Allium cepa L.) Skin Waste Valorization: Unveiling the Phenolic Profile and Biological Potential for the Creation of Bioactive Agents through Subcritical Water Extraction

Onion skin waste (OSW), the primary non-edible byproduct from onion processing, offers a renewable source of bioactive compounds. This study aims to valorize OSW through subcritical water extraction (SWE), aligning with a circular economy and biorefinery principles. SWE was carried out at 145 °C and 50 bar for 50 min in a discontinuous reactor, producing a phenolic-rich extract (32.3 ± 2.6 mg/g) dominated by protocatechuic acid (20.3 ± 2.5 mg/g), quercetin-4'-O-glucoside (7.5 ± 0.2 mg/g), and quercetin (3.2 ± 0.6 mg/g). Additionally, the extract contains sugars (207.1 ± 20.3 mg sucrose-Eq/g), proteins (22.8 ± 1.6 mg BSA-Eq/g), and free amino acids (20.4 ± 1.2 mg arginine-Eq/g). Its phenolic richness determines its scavenging activity against ●NO and O2●- radicals and its α-glucosidase and aldose-reductase inhibition without affecting α-amylase. Notably, the extract demonstrates significant α-glucosidase inhibition (IC50 = 75.6 ± 43.5 µg/mL), surpassing acarbose (IC50 = 129.5 ± 1.0 µg/mL) in both pure enzyme and cell culture tests without showing cytotoxicity to AGS, HepG2, and Caco-2 human cell lines. The extract's bioactivity and nutritional content make it suitable for developing antioxidant and antidiabetic nutraceutical/food components, highlighting SWE's potential for OSW valorization without using organic solvents.

Flavonoids: Overview of Biosynthesis, Biological Activity, and Current Extraction Techniques

Recently, increased attention has been paid to natural sources as raw materials for the development of new added-value products. Flavonoids are a large family of polyphenols which include several classes based on their basic structure: flavanones, flavones, isoflavones, flavonols, flavanols, and anthocyanins. They have a multitude of biological properties, such as anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antiviral, antimicrobial, anticancer, cardioprotective, and neuroprotective effects. Current trends of research and development on flavonoids relate to identification, extraction, isolation, physico-chemical characterization, and their applications to health benefits. This review presents an up-to-date survey of the most recent developments in the natural flavonoid classes, the biological activity of representative flavonoids, current extraction techniques, and perspectives.

Promising bioactive properties of quercetin for potential food applications and health benefits: A review

Naturally occurring phytochemicals with promising biological properties are quercetin and its derivatives. Quercetin has been thoroughly studied for its antidiabetic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-Alzheimer's, anti-arthritic, antioxidant, cardiovascular, and wound-healing properties. Anticancer activity of quercetin against cancer cell lines has also recently been revealed. The majority of the Western diet contains quercetin and its derivatives, therefore consuming them as part of a meal or as a food supplement may be sufficient for people to take advantage of their preventive effects. Bioavailability-based drug-delivery systems of quercetin have been heavily studied. Fruits, seeds, vegetables, bracken fern, coffee, tea, and other plants all contain quercetin, as do natural colors. One naturally occurring antioxidant is quercetin, whose anticancer effects have been discussed in detail. It has several properties that could make it an effective anti-cancer agent. Numerous researches have shown that quercetin plays a substantial part in the suppression of cancer cells in the breast, colon, prostate, ovary, endometrial, and lung tumors. The current study includes a concise explanation of quercetin's action mechanism and potential health applications.

Sustainable Food Systems: The Case of Functional Compounds towards the Development of Clean Label Food Products

The addition of natural components with functional properties in novel food formulations confers one of the main challenges that the modern food industry is called to face. New EU directives and the global turn to circular economy models are also pressing the agro-industrial sector to adopt cradle-to-cradle approaches for their by-products and waste streams. This review aims to present the concept of “sustainable functional compounds”, emphasizing on some main bioactive compounds that could be recovered or biotechnologically produced from renewable resources. Herein, and in view of their efficient and “greener” production and extraction, emerging technologies, together with their possible advantages or drawbacks, are presented and discussed. Μodern examples of novel, clean label food products that are composed of sustainable functional compounds are summarized. Finally, some action plans towards the establishment of sustainable food systems are suggested.