Impact of varied drying methods on the phytochemical compounds, and antioxidant, antidiabetic and anti-tyrosinase activities of Citrus aurantium
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of four drying methods (freeze-drying (FD), vacuum-drying (VD), hot air-drying (HD), and sun-drying (SD)) on the phytochemical profile and bioactivities of different parts (leaves, pulps, peels, seeds) of Citrus aurantium . Quantitative analysis revealed that FD significantly ( P < 0.05) enhanced the retention of total phenolics (e.g., 25.30 ± 0.65 mg GAE/g), flavanols (0.85 ± 0.02 mg CE/g), flavonols (23.91 ± 0.78 mg RE/g) and condensed tannins (3.39 ± 0.04 mg CE/g) in leaves, concurrently yielding the strongest antioxidant (DPPH IC₅₀: 3.26 ± 0.16 mg/mL; ABTS IC₅₀: 0.81 ± 0.01 mg/mL) activity. Conversely, thermal drying methods (VD, HD) and SD were more suitable for pulps, peels, and seeds. For instance, peels and seeds treated with thermal drying methods exhibited higher anti-α-glucosidase activity significantly ( P < 0.05) than FD. UPLC-QTOF-MS/MS identified 14 phenolic and alkaloid compounds, with correlation analyses confirming that phenolic compounds were the primary contributors to the observed bioactivities. This study provides a quantitative basis for selecting optimal drying methods to maximize the bioactivity and utilization of different C. aurantium parts for functional food and pharmaceutical applications • Freeze-drying was suitable for bioactive constituent and bioactivities of leaves. • Hot drying was more appropriate for pulps, peels and seed. • Sun-drying was appropriate to release of anti-α-glucosidase constituents. • A total of 14 compounds were characterized by UPLC-QTOF-MS.
Source: Journal of Functional Foods
Authors: Xiang Liu, Zhongwei Zhang, Sujin Deng, Limin Zhu, Shuiqing Chen, Chunlin Chen, Changjiu Ji, Zhihong Feng, Lingguang Yang, Yongchao Xie, Peipei Yin
Institutions: Yichun University, Shandong Agricultural University
Language: English
Topic: Food Drying and Modeling
Subfield: Food Science
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,800
Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Natural Science Foundation of Jiangxi Province, Major Discipline Academic and Technical Leaders Training Program of Jiangxi Province, Key Research and Development Program of Jiangxi Province, National College Students Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program
OpenAlex ID: W7103978678