Impact of supercritical fluid extraction, ultrasound-assisted extraction, and conventional method on the phytochemicals and antioxidant activity of bhimkol (Musa balbisiana) banana blossom

Three extraction techniques, namely, conventional, ultrasound-assisted, and supercritical fluid extractions (SCFE) were used to study the total polyphenol content (TPC) and antioxidant activity in bhimkol (Musa balbisiana) banana blossom. Optimization was carried out to attain major phytochemicals by response surface methodology-central composite design. Various parts of blossom and whole banana blossom (WB) were investigated for their major phytochemical constituents by conventional method and RP-HPLC (at the optimized condition). The WB revealed higher phytochemical contents than other parts. Highest TPC (2,750.37 mg GAE/100 g) was obtained in WB by the SCFE method vis-a-vis the antioxidant activity (79.41%) under optimized condition (60 degrees C, 210 bar, 40 min, and 5 g/min CO2 flow-rate). RP-HPLC analysis revealed various phytochemicals of different concentrations depending on the extraction method used. SCFE revealed higher phytochemical contents as compared to ultrasound-assisted extraction and conventional methods. The results of the present investigation will be useful in the development of functional foods. Novelty impact statement Supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE) was found to be a novel extraction technique of phytochemicals as compared to ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and conventional method. SCFE and UAE revealed that extraction process parameters (viz., temperature, pressure, and amplitude) had a strong positive effect on TPC and antioxidant activity. The optimum condition obtained for SCFE was 60 degrees C, 210 bar, 40 min, and 5 g/min flow rate whereas, for UAE it was 60 degrees C, 35% amplitude, and 20 min.