Screening, influence analysis and optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction parameters of cornelian cherries (Cornus mas L.)

Abstract

© 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Cornelian cherries were used as raw material for extraction of polyphenols with high antioxidant capacity by ultrasound-assisted extraction. Factorial design was used for preliminary experiments in order to determine the most influential factors (temperature, extraction time, ethanol concentration, ultrasonic power, and liquid–solid ratio). In next step, face-centered central composite experimental design with response surface methodology was used for multiresponse optimization in terms of maximized yields of polyphenols (phenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins) and antioxidant activity parameters (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays). Temperature (40–80°C), extraction time (20–60 min), and ethanol concentration (20%–60%) were investigated as independent variables. Experimental results were fitted to second-order polynomial model and analysis of variance was used to determine fitness of the model and optimal conditions. The optimal conditions for multiresponse maximization were temperature of 80°C, extraction time of 54.8 min, and ethanol concentration of 28.2% with desirability function of 0.916. Practical applications: Nowadays, focus of natural products processing is aimed toward development of novel, green and economically feasible techniques and utilization of agricultural and food industry waste streams as raw material for recovery of valuable bioactive compounds. Furthermore, novel procedures should be optimized to increase yield and target compounds and minimize resource (solvent, time, and energy) consumption. This research represents investigation of underutilized fruit, that is, cornelian cherry, as a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity. The paper provides information about optimization of ultrasound-assisted extraction and utilization of dried cornelian cherries as alternative raw material for production of polyphenol-rich extracts.