Choline chloride-based natural deep eutectic solvents for the extraction and stability of phenolic compounds, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity from Citrus sinensis peel

What if the secret to capturing nature's most powerful antioxidants was hiding in the orange peels we throw away every day? Researchers are now tapping into greener liquid formulas to extract these hidden treasures.

Orange peels are packed with valuable bioactive compounds like phenolics and ascorbic acid, boasting impressive antioxidant powers. To capture these ingredients sustainably, scientists are turning toward innovative green liquids known as natural deep eutectic solvents. While these solvents show great promise, understanding how well they protect and stabilize delicate compounds during storage has remained largely unexplored.

To bridge this knowledge gap, researchers screened eight different formulations to find the ideal candidates for extraction. They tracked total phenolic content, total flavonoids, ascorbic acid, and antioxidant capacity over a twelve-day storage period.

The results revealed that combinations of choline chloride with malic acid or glycerol stood out as the most effective extractors. Notably, the malic acid mixture proved especially skilled at keeping both ascorbic acid and phenolic compounds stable over time.

Ultimately, these specialized formulations do more than just extract; they actively boost extract stability and antioxidant capacity. This brilliant capability means they can be applied directly in food formulations without needing a costly and complicated solvent removal process.

Key Points

• Screened eight natural deep eutectic solvents for orange peel extraction.
• Choline chloride paired with malic acid or glycerol proved most suitable.
• Malic acid mixtures successfully improved compound stability during storage.