Abstract

The Euterpe edulis (Juçara) is native to Brazil, which berries and wastes present high antioxidant content. Therefore, in this study, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was investigated for antioxidant compounds extraction from E. edulis waste and maximized antioxidant activities using response surface methodology coupled with a central composite design. Three factors were observed: microwave power (400/500/600 W), exposition time (30/60/90 sec) and ethanol concentration solvent (40/60/80%). The extracts were characterized by determination of total phenolic (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), monomeric anthocyanins (TAC), tannins content (TTC), and in vitro antioxidant assay (AA%). The yield of TPC, TFC, TAC, and TTC varied at 595.43-2171.34 mg GAE.100 g DM^-1, 137.36-251.24 mg QE.100 g DM^-1, 179.32-354.38 mg C-3-GE.100 g DM^-1 and 0.23-1.00 µg TAE.100 g DM^-1, respectively. The optimal MAE parameters for TPC was microwave power 668.18 W, exposition time 110.45 s and aqueous ethanol concentration 93.64%, for TFC same parameters observed; though for TAC the different parameters were 532.28 W, and for TTC 9.55 s. However, for antioxidant activity, the parameters were 668.18 W, 110.45 s time and 64.41% of aqueous ethanol solvent. Therefore, this methodology was successfully applied for optimal extraction of total phenolics, flavonoids, monomeric anthocyanins and tannins from juçara waste and obtain optimal antioxidant activity.

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