Enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of lyophilized vitamin c concentrates from Malpighia emarginata (acerola): a comparative study

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X83711

Keywords:

Acerola concentrate, Ascorbic acid extraction, Extract drying methods, Natural products

Abstract

Vitamin C (Vit C) plays beneficial roles in the human body and has been used as a natural preservative in foods. However, there are no technological prospecting studies aimed at producing Vit C concentrates from Malpighia emarginata (acerola) nor antioxidant and antimicrobial evaluations of these products. In this context, this study aimed to compare Vit C concentrates obtained from acerola through two different drying methods (spray drying and freeze-drying), evaluating these preparations’ antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. The concentration of Vit C and phytochemical analyses were performed using chromatographic (HPLC) and spectroscopic (ESI-IT-MSn) methods. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by microdilution and diffusion in a solid medium. Chemical analyses revealed the presence of six compounds, including Vit C and anthocyanins, considered markers for this species. The Vit C content was higher for freeze-drying compared to spray drying (16.30% and 10.74%, respectively). In the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test, the freeze-dried product also showed better activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus compared to the spray-dried product (0.0078 and 0.0312 g/mL, respectively). In the solid medium, both concentrates were active. The concentrates also showed antioxidant effects by the DPPH method. The results of this study provide convincing evidence that freeze-drying M. emarginata results in a higher concentration of Vit C and has promising antioxidant and antimicrobial effects.

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Author Biographies

Flavia Maria Comachio, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Master's level researcher in the Postgraduate Program in Technology and Innovation Management, at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó). She is currently a master's scholarship holder in the Academic Master's and Doctorate Program for Innovation - MAI/DAI, of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq, developing research to obtain and characterize new compounds for application in the food industry.

Angela Barichello, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Master's level researcher in the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó), where she participates in the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Natural Products research group. She is currently a master's scholarship holder in the Master's and Doctorate Program for Academic Innovation - MAI/DAI, of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq, developing research in experimental pharmacology, with emphasis on preclinical toxicology studies.

Guilherme Grigolo Kielb, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Food Engineering student at the Community University of the Chapecó Region - Unochapecó. He has experience in Computer Science, with an emphasis on software development, web design and game development. He has developed academic work, having experience in all processes. He participated in events such as the 7th SIEPE (Integrated Seminar of Teaching, Research and Extension) 2017 edition held by Unochapecó and the SEPEI (Seminar of Teaching, Research, Extension and Innovation - IFSC) 2018 edition held by the Federal Institute of Santa Catarina campus Florianópolis - Continente. He has published the article Experimentation and ceramic technology, winner of the Academic Production Award - High School Research (7th SIEPE).

Giovana Tamara Capoani, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Undergraduate researcher in the Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Natural Products research group at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó). She is currently a Technological and Industrial Initiation scholarship holder of the Master's and Doctorate Program for Academic Innovation - MAI/DAI, of the National Council for Scientific and Technological Development - CNPq, developing research in experimental pharmacology.

Gustavo Lopes Colpani, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Professor and researcher at master's and doctoral level in the Postgraduate Programs in Environmental Sciences (Concept 5 CAPES) and Postgraduate Program in Technology and Innovation Management (Concept 5 CAPES) at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó), where he works in research in the area of ​​Chemical Engineering, mainly in topics related to Water and Effluent Treatment, Electrochemistry, Electro-oxidation, Photocatalysis, Photoelectrocatalysis, Conductive Polymers, Rare Earths, Ionomer Polymer-Metal Composites and Material Characterization.

Marcio Antônio Fiori, Federal Technological University of Paraná

He holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2008), a Master's degree in Condensed Matter Physics from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (2000) and a Bachelor's degree in Physics from the Federal University of Santa Catarina (1996). He has a Post-Doctorate in Nuclear Technology from the Institute for Energy and Nuclear Research at USP. He is a professor in the Academic Department of Physics at the Federal Technological University of Paraná/UTFPR, Pato Branco Campus. He is currently a CNPq productivity researcher (PQ) and was a CNPq productivity researcher in Technological Development from 2010 to 2016. He has experience in the area of ​​condensed matter physics, chemical engineering and chemistry, with an emphasis on the development, characterization and application of nanostructured materials and in the development of physical and chemical processes dedicated to biological systems for effluent treatment and waste valorization. He works in the lines of multifunctional materials and multifunctional processes. In multifunctional materials, the company focuses on projects to develop antimicrobial nanostructures and photocatalytic nanostructures for applications in polymeric systems and in the development of electroactive polymeric systems for application in actuator elements, accumulators and sensors. In the multifunctional processes line, the company works on the development of reactor technologies and electroactive elements dedicated to biological systems and for the treatment of effluents and waste valorization.

Max Vidal Gutiérrez, São Paulo State University

PhD from the Postgraduate Program in Pharmaceutical Sciences at the São Paulo State University Júlio de Mesquita Filho (2020). Master in Health Sciences from the University of Sonora, Hermosillo Campus, Sonora Mexico (2016) and Bachelor in Clinical Biological Chemistry from the University of Sonora, Hermosillo Campus, Sonora Mexico (2014). Currently Professor and Researcher of the Undergraduate Program in Clinical Biological Chemistry at the University of Sonora, Navojoa Campus, Sonora Mexico. With experience in the area of ​​Pharmacology, Chemistry of Natural Products, Identification and Quantification of substances with biological potential, and Development of Medicines and Phytopharmaceuticals with potential chemotherapeutic use.

Vanessa da Silva Corralo, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Professor and researcher at the master's and doctoral levels in the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó). Director of Research and Stricto Sensu Postgraduate Studies at Unochapecó. She works in the area of ​​Health and Environment, with an emphasis on Toxicology and Pharmacology of xenobiotics, as well as in the area of ​​Human Aging.

Walter Antônio Roman Junior, Community University of Chapecó Region (UNOCHAPECÓ)

Professor and researcher at the master's and doctoral levels in the Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences at the Community University of the Chapecó Region (Unochapecó), where he coordinates the Research Group on Phytochemistry and Pharmacology of Natural Products. Member of the Brazilian Society of Medicinal Plants (SBPM) and the Brazilian Society of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (SBFTE). Associate editor of the Brazilian Journal of Medicinal Plants (RBPM) and Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Among the research in experimental pharmacology, studies evaluating the involvement of inflammatory markers and oxidative stress in gastroprotective and neurobehavioral activities stand out.

Micheli Zanetti, Community University of Chapecó Region - Unochapecó

Professor and Researcher of the Postgraduate Program in Management Technology and Innovation (Capes Concept 5). Currently researching technological solutions to provide advances in the reuse of waste with potential for application in food, she also works with the obtaining and characterization of new biomaterials for application in biological systems.

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Published

2024-11-01

How to Cite

Comachio, F. M., Barichello, A., Kielb, G. G., Capoani, G. T., Colpani, G. L., Fiori, M. A., Gutiérrez, M. V., Corralo, V. da S., Roman Junior, W. A., & Zanetti, M. (2024). Enhanced antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of lyophilized vitamin c concentrates from Malpighia emarginata (acerola): a comparative study. Ciência E Natura, 47, e83711. https://doi.org/10.5902/2179460X83711

Issue

Vol. 47 (2025): Publicação contínua

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Chemistry

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