Application of the Box-Behnken experimental design for the extraction of phenolic compounds from araca-roxo (Psidium myrtoides)

The purpose of this study was to investigate the bioactive compounds of araca-roxo by applying the Box-Behnken experimental design to evaluate the effect of temperature, time, and ethanol concentration on the extraction of phenolic compounds. The three variables evaluated significantly affected (p < .05) the extraction, and temperature proved to be the most influential variable. The optimum conditions were as follows: extraction temperature of 50 degrees C, extraction time of 30 min, and ethanol concentration of 40%. Under such optimum conditions, the phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and anthocyanins present in the peel, pulp, and seed were determined and, separately, the phenolic and carotenoid compounds present in the extracts were identified and quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. This study helped confirm the importance of araca-roxo as a source of bioactive compounds, thereby demonstrating its potential for consumption. Practical applications Ultrasound can be considered an efficient technique for extracting phenolic compounds from the araca-roxo, mainly at the optimized conditions. It can be seen that within the studied range (different temperature, solvent concentration, and extraction time), the araca-roxo is rich in phenolic compounds, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and carotenoids, with the highest concentrations found in the extract obtained from the peel. The use of novel or green extraction methods, such as ultrasound, can provide higher efficiency for obtaining valuable compounds from araca-roxo which may be an interest to the food industry.