Optimization of aqueous extraction conditions for the recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidants from lemon pomace

The aim of this study was to optimize the aqueous extraction conditions for the recovery of phenolic compounds and antioxidant capacity of lemon pomace using response surface methodology. An experiment based on Box–Behnken design was conducted to analyse the effects of temperature, time and sample-to-water ratio on the extraction of total phenolic compounds, total flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and antioxidant capacity. Sample-to-solvent ratio had a negative effect on all the dependent variables, while extraction temperature and time had a positive effect only on TPC yields and ABTS antioxidant capacity. The optimal extraction conditions were 95 oC, 15 min, and a sample-to-solvent ratio of 1:100 g/ml. Under these conditions, the aqueous extracts had the same content of TPC and TF as well as antioxidant capacity in comparison with those of methanol extracts obtained by sonication. Therefore these conditions could be applied for further extraction and isolation of phenolic compounds from lemon pomace.

Enhancement of the total phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of aqueous Citrus limon L. pomace extracts using microwave pre-treatment on the dry powder

The effect of microwave pre-treatment on the levels of total phenolic compounds, flavonoids, proanthocyanidins and individual major compounds as well as the total antioxidant activity of the dried lemon pomace was investigated. The results showed that microwave pre-treatment significantly affected all the examined parameters. The total phenolic content, total flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, as well as the total antioxidant activity significantly increased as the microwave radiation time and power increased (e.g., 2.5 folds for phenolics, 1.4 folds for flavonoids and 5.5 folds for proanthocyanidins), however irradiation more than 480 W for 5 min resulted in the decrease of these parameters. These findings indicate that microwave irradiation time and power may enhance higher levels of the phenolic compounds as well as the antioxidant capacity of the dried lemon pomace powder. However, higher and longer irradiation may lead to a degradation of phenolic compounds and lower the antioxidant capacity of the dried lemon pomace.