Coupling of cold atmospheric plasma treatment with ultrasound-assisted extraction for enhanced recovery of bioactive compounds from cornelian cherry pomace

What if the secret to unlocking the full potential of a superfood's waste lies in a burst of cold plasma? Scientists have found a way to turn cornelian cherry pomace into a treasure trove of bioactive compounds—using a combination of plasma and ultrasound.

Cornelian cherry, a traditional Mediterranean superfruit, leaves behind a pomace after juicing—a by-product that's far from worthless. Packed with bioactive compounds, this residue has caught the attention of researchers looking for sustainable ways to recover valuable molecules. The challenge? Extracting them efficiently without harming the environment.

Enter cold atmospheric plasma (CAP), a pre-treatment that uses ionized gas to disrupt plant cell walls, making the good stuff easier to release. When paired with ultrasound-assisted extraction, the recovery of these compounds gets a significant boost. To make the process even greener, the team added β-cyclodextrin, a sugar-based molecule that forms inclusion complexes with the target compounds, acting like a molecular sponge.

The study tested different plasma conditions and found that CAP pretreatment before extraction enhanced the recovery of anthocyanins, phenolics, iridoids, and organic acids. They then used GC-MS analysis to identify the compounds and an in vitro digestion model to check their potential bioavailability—how well they might be absorbed by the human body. The results suggest this combo could be a game-changer for turning food waste into functional ingredients.

Key Points

• Cold plasma pre-treatment boosts bioactive recovery from pomace.
• Ultrasound-assisted extraction paired with β-cyclodextrin enhances yield.
• GC-MS and in vitro digestion assess composition and bioavailability.