Comprehensive Utilization of Immature Honey Pomelo Fruit for the Production of Value-Added Compounds Using Novel Continuous Phase Transition Extraction Technology

Abstract

The immature honey pomelo fruit (IPF) is a huge agro-industrial by-product generated during pomelo planting. Although IPF is rich in nutrients, more than 95% of IPF is discarded annually, which causes resource waste and a serious environmental problem. Here, we report a novel continuous phase transition extraction technology (CPTE) to improve the comprehensive utilization of IPF by sequentially generating high value products and solve pollution problems related to their disposal. First, essential oil was successively extracted by CPTE at a yield of 1.12 ± 0.36%, in which 43 species were identified. Second, naringin extraction parameters were optimized using the response surface methodology (RSM), resulting in a maximum extraction rate of 99.47 ± 0.15%. Finally, pectin was extracted at a yield of 20.23 ± 0.66%, which is similar to the contents of commercial pectin. In conclusion, this study suggested that IPF was an excellent potential substrate for the production of value-added components by CPTE.

Novel Pectic Polysaccharides Isolated from Immature Honey Pomelo Fruit with High Immunomodulatory Activity

“…Approximately 1 kg of dried IPF fruit was ground into a 40 mesh powder and pretreated to extract essential oils and naringin using a novel continuous phase-transition extraction device [ 57 ], based on our previously reported methodology [ 2 ]. The resulting IPF residue was subjected to acid extraction and alcohol precipitation to extract pectin [ 58 ].…”

“…However, our previous research suggests that IPF is rich in bioactive substances such as essential oils, naringin, and pectin, which have considerable medicinal and commercial value. Essential oils and naringin have good antioxidant activity [ 2 ], yet research on the bioactive substances of IPF remains limited. Pectin, a polysaccharide straight-chain compound, is an abundant and multifunctional component of terrestrial plant cell walls.…”