4^th European Food Chemistry Congress

Wood apple (Limonia acidissima L.) is an underutilised fruit which is native to India and Sri Lanka, belongs to the Rutaceae family, with number of medicinal and nutritional benefits. The fruit contain numerous antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory properties. This study was aimed to optimise the ultrasonic extraction conditions using Response Surface Methodology (RSM), varying the independent factors such as solvent concentration of methanol (50-100 %), ultrasonic temperature (30-50 oC), sonication duration (20-40 min), and ultrasonic frequency (25-45 kHz). The response factors of extractions selected for extraction include phenolic yield, total phenolic content (TPC), and DPPHsc activity. The optimal conditions observed for ultrasonic extraction were solvent concentration (61.5 % methanol), temperature (50 oC), sonication duration (40 min), and ultrasonic frequency (25 kHz). Under these specific optimal conditions, the extraction yield of phenols was found 25.81%, TPC of 224.36 g GAE/g, and DPPHsc activity of 93.49%. The model's significance was suggested to be at a 95% confidence level, and all three responses were statistically acceptable based on significant regression (p<0.005) and lack of fit (p<0.001). Further, ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analysis of phenolic compounds from methanolic extract of wood apple fruit pulp revealed a significant amount of gallic acid, catechin, caffeic acid, syringic acid, vanillic acid, and quercetin.