ETHANOLIC EXTRACTION OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS FROM BORER-ROT COMPLEX IN SUGARCANE

The borer-rot complex results from the entry of opportunistic fungi, such as Fusarium moniliform and Colletotrichum falcatum, through the galleries in stalk resulting from the entry of Diatrea (sugarcane borer) into its caterpillar stage. The caterpillar pierces the stalk and consumes the inside. The development of the fungi acidifies the medium and intensifies the stalk darkening reactions, forming compounds of intense red color. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ability of ethanol at different concentrations (60, 80 and 100%) to extract compounds from the affected area. Total phenolics, total flavonoids, total carotenoids and total antioxidant capacity of each ethanolic fraction obtained were analyzed. The profile of phenolic compounds was also analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Regarding phenolic compounds, the highest concentration was obtained with the use of 80% ethanol. The highest concentrations of total flavonoids and carotenoids were obtained using 60% ethanol as solvent. Regarding the total antioxidant capacity, there was no statistical difference between the extracts obtained with 80% and 100% ethanol. By the chromatographic profile analysis, there was no difference between the analyzed fractions regarding the types of extracted compounds, but there was difference between the quantities of extracted compounds. Therefore, the solvent to be used will depend on the purpose for which the compounds will be employed.