Aqueous extraction kinetics of phenolic compounds from jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) seeds

In this study, aqueous extraction of phenolic compounds from jamun (Syzygium cumini L.) seed was undertaken. The effects of various parameters such as extraction temperature (34.8-85.2 degrees C), extraction time (49.8-100.2 min), and liquid-to-solid ratio (9.8-60.2 mL/g) on the extraction yield, extract purity (i.e., total polyphenol content), and its antioxidant activities (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrlthydrazyl free radical scavenging assay and ferric reducing antioxidant power) were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to optimize the extraction conditions. The optimum extraction conditions (49.2 degrees C, 89.4 min, and 51.6:1 mL/g) produced an extract with 17.3% extraction yield, high total polyphenol content (415 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dried extract) and significant antioxidant activity (IC50: 35.4 +/- 0.7 mu g/mL). The high-performance liquid chromatography analysis of seed extract revealed the presence of gallic acid (90.8 mg/g dried extract), ellagic acid (36 mg/g dried extract), caffeic acid (26.07 mg/g dried extract), p-coumaric acid (0.26 mg/g dried extract), catechin (9.05 mg/g dried extract), epicatechin (0.42 mg/g dried extract), and quercetin (1.54 mg/g dried extract). Tannic acid (188.5 mg/g dried extract) was also identified as a major phenolic compound. The extraction kinetics was also studied and experimental data were fitted to four kinetic models such as first-order model, second-order model, Peleg's model, and Minchev and Minkov model, to evaluate their applicability.