Work

Enzyme-assisted biotransformation of immature pomelo residues for skin-targeted nutricosmetic ingredients: Integrating compositional changes with cellular transcriptomic responses

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Valorization of discarded immature pomelo ( Citrus grandis cv. ‘Puko Yarang’) residues offers a sustainable approach to generate functional ingredients. A coordinated one-pot enzymatic system using Aromase™ H2 and Pectinex® Ultra SP-L was developed to concurrently target flavonoid and pectin matrices. This converted naringin to the lipophilic aglycone naringenin and pectin into pectic oligosaccharides (POS), combining the localized retention properties of the aglycone with the modulatory roles of POS. Under optimized conditions (0.1% enzyme, 30 min), near-complete naringin conversion produced extracts enriched in both bioactives. The biotransformed extracts exhibited enhanced in vitro antioxidant activity and increased ex vivo dermal naringenin retention. Transcriptomic analysis of HaCaT keratinocytes revealed treatment-specific responses associated with epidermal differentiation, defense, and metabolic adaptation. Thus, this green bioprocess upgrades agricultural waste into potential candidates for skin-targeted nutricosmetic applications, successfully linking compositional modification with targeted cellular responses.

Source: Journal of Functional Foods

DOI: 10.1016/j.jff.2026.107450