EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM PUNICA GRANATUM L. (PUNICA GRANATUM L.) USING ULTRASONIC-ASSISTED PRESSURIZED LIQUIDS ASSOCIATED WITH THE NITROGEN EXPANSION GAS
Pomegranate peels (Punica granatum L.) contain high amounts of compounds of the class of elagitannins, Punicalagina (alpha and beta) and elágic acid which present a great potential for the prevention and treatment of several diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and obesity, among others. Bioactive compounds can be extracted using appropriate techniques and conditions, which favor the selectivity and preservation of the compounds, producing a good quality extract. The objective of this study was to evaluate the potential effect of the combination of two extraction techniques, pressurized liquids (PLE) with ultrasonic assisted extraction (KAU), associated with the use of expansion gas, in extracting phenolic compounds from the pomegranate peel, in order to Process efficiency, selectivity and yield. The extractions were performed in the "EXTRACT-US" system, an integrated HPLC analysis and extraction system. It is possible to perform extraction under high pressure, assisted by ultrasound and still associates it with the use of expansion gas. The effect of combining ultrasonic power (0 - 400W) with expansion gas pressure (nitrogen) (0, 5, 10, 15bar) under fixed conditions of temperature (40 ° C), pressure (200bar), time Of extraction (20 minutes) in 3 extraction cycles. In the diffusion stage of the extraction, the greatest differences were observed in the extracted content, especially when using ultrasonic power (400W) and intermediate amounts of expansion gas (5 and 10bar), and the results were compared to an extraction performed by PLE without the use of Expansion gas or at a pressure of 15bar. From the combination of the extraction techniques a difference in the interaction between the amount of expansion gas and the UAE potency was observed. Therefore, a great potential to be exploited by the use of an expansion gas is identified to improve the efficiency of the extraction process using (PLE) with and without ultrasound.