Extraction of bioactives from pumpkin by-products and determination of their antioxidant activity

Abstract

Agro-industrial and food processing from pumpkins (Cucurbitaceae) produces a large number of by-products: bark, pomace, seeds still rich in bioactive compounds, especially carotenoids and green pigments (proto chlorophyll (a and b) and proto pheophytin (a and b)), which exhibit a broad spectrum of health-promoting effects and can be used as ingredients in functional food and cosmetics. For extraction of bioactive compounds from dried pumpkin by-products different methods were used: supercritical CO2, Soxhlet extraction with n- hexane, ethanol. Vegetable oils (rapeseed, coconut, grapeseed and olive oil) were used as green solvent alternatives to conventional organic solvents for carotenoid extraction. Detection and analyses of chlorophylls and carotenoids was done with hexane/acetone, cyclohexane, ethanol as solvents. The aim of this study was to use pumpkin by-products for extraction of high-value bioactive compounds with different methods, to determine antioxidant´s content and profile – carotenoids (ß-carotene, lutein, lycopene, zeaxanthin), pigments (chlorophylls a, chlorophylls b) with different solvents and to find out what solvent can be used for detection of pigments and carotenoids; to determine antiradical scavenging activity of biologically active compounds in extracts from pumpkin by-products (peel and hulled seeds).

Research for Rural Development 2023 : annual 29th international scientific conference proceedings

“…β-carotene content in the skin is low, and exposition to sunlight reduces the content of this compound in the skin. In our previous studies of carotenoid and chlorophylls content in extracts from pumpkin peel TCC reached 32.43 ± 2.09 µg mL -1 , ß-carotene content was 5.37 ± 1.12 µg mL -1 Moreover, these extracts contained lutein, zeaxanthin, Chl a, Chl b (Konrade & Spalvins, 2022). Though carotenoids are very sensitive to temperature changes and light exposure, incorporated into facial creams there was found higher sun protective factor values (SPF) for facial creams with carotenoid extract (CE) and pumpkin seed oil (PSO) than in Control from Tween80 and Span80.…”

“…Pumpkin seed oil (PSO) is valuable source of phenolic compounds as tyrosol, vanillic acid, vanillin, luteolin and sinapic acid having high antioxidant activities (Mala & Kurian, 2016). PSO showed antiradical scavenging activity (DPPH assay) 20.2% and high content of TCC (47.67 ± 2.09 µg mL -1 ), especially ßcarotene and lutein (Konrade & Spalvins, 2022).…”

“…Pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L, Pink Banana Jumbo) by-products -peel and pomace were obtained from Lat Eko Food Ltd., 2021. For formulation of facial creams (Table 1) were used the following: pumpkin seed oil (PSO) and carotenoid extracts (CE) from peel extracted with supercritical CO 2 (Konrade & Spalvins, 2022); bee wax; cacao seed butter (La Saponaria, L221879); shea butter (La Saponaria, 221451 06-24); calendula oil (Farfalla, NO1F000); cetyl, glycerol, Tween80 and Span80 (Sigma Aldrich, Germany).…”

“…The absorption coefficients (A 1cm 1% ) of common food carotenoids were used for calculations. (Braniša et al, 2014;Konrade & Spalvins, 2022).…”

Carotenoid extract and oil from pumpkin (cucurbitta spp.) by-products for facial creams with high antioxidant activity

“…) of common food carotenoids were used for calculations. (Braniša et al, 2014;Konrade & Spalvins, 2022).…”