Extraction of Gallic Acid and Ferulic Acid for Application in Hair Supplements

Abstract

Food supplements based on antioxidants and vitamins are often prescribed to correct inefficiencies in the human diet and delay diseases such as premature aging and alopecia (temporary or permanent hair loss), given the free radical scavenging activity of these biomolecules. By reducing the concentration of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which promote abnormal hair follicle cycling and morphology, follicle inflammation and oxidative stress are reduced, minimising the effects of these health issues. Gallic acid (GA), which is significantly present in gallnuts and in pomegranate root bark, and ferulic acid (FA), commonly found in brown rice and coffee seeds, are very important antioxidants for the preservation of hair colour, strength and growth. In this work, these two secondary phenolic metabolites were successfully extracted in the Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPS) {ethyl lactate (1) + trisodium citrate (2) + water (3)} and {ethyl lactate (1) + tripotassium citrate (2) + water (3)} at 298.15 K and 0.1 MPa, moving towards the application of these ternary systems in extracting antioxidants from biowaste and their a posteriori processing as food supplements for hair fortification. The studied ATPS provided biocompatible and sustainable media for the extraction of gallic acid and ferulic acid, yielding low mass losses (<3%) and contributing to an eco-friendlier production of therapeutics. The most promising results were obtained for ferulic acid, which attained maximum partition coefficients (K) of 15 ± 5 and (3 ± 2) · 101 and maximum extraction efficiencies (E) of (92.7 ± 0.4)% and (96.7 ± 0.4)% for the longest tie-lines (TLL = 69.68 and 77.66 m%) in {ethyl lactate (1) + trisodium citrate (2) + water (3)} and {ethyl lactate (1) + tripotassium citrate (2) + water (3)}, respectively. Moreover, the effect of pH on the UV-Vis absorbance spectra was studied for all the biomolecules to minimise errors in solute quantification. Both GA and FA were found to be stable at the used extractive conditions.

Removal of Acetaminophen (Paracetamol) from Water Using Aqueous Two-Phase Systems (ATPSs) Composed of Choline-Amino Acid Ionic Liquids

“…For each p K a value, a proton (H + ) can be donated to its surroundings, thus leading to different charged stages of the solute. The ratio between two successive stages of the solute can be determined for a given value of the phase’s pH, using eq − false[ S q 0 − ( i − 1 ) false] false[ S q 0 − i false] = 10 normalp normalH φ − normalp K a i where S stands for the solute, q 0 is the initial electrical charge at pH = 0, pH φ denotes the pH of phase φ, and p K a i is the p K a relative to the stage i . The index i ranges from 0 to the maximum number of protons the species can donate, i.e., the number of dissociation constants.…”

“…The mean electrical charge q ̅ of a solution can be calculated by relating the relative abundances of each charged stage of the solute and their respective electrical charge, applying eqs and . − q̅ = ∑ i = 1 i max ( x S q 0 − ( i − 1 ) · false( q 0 − ( i − 1 ) false) ) + ( 1 − ∑ i = 1 i max ( x S q 0 − ( i − 1 ) ) ) · ( q 0 − i max ) x S q 0 − false( i − 1 false) = false[ S q 0 − ( i − 1 ) false] false[ S q 0 − i false] ( [ S q 0…”

“…To lessen the effects of small dilutions due to the pH adjustments, it is helpful to normalize the UV–vis absorbance values following eq . A ′ = A · C normalp normalH ≈ 7 C p H = k where A ′ is the normalized UV–vis absorbance, A is the measured UV–vis absorbance at a given wavelength, C pH≈7 is the reference concentration, and C pH= k is the concentration of the solution at pH = k . The reference concentration was chosen at a pH close to 7, following the reasoning in previous works of the research group. − …”

Partition Studies of Resveratrol in Low-Impact ATPS for Food Supplementation

“…Given that this specific phenolic compound may present acidic behavior under certain pH conditions, the relative abundance of a certain acidic stage with respect to its conjugate base was calculated using eq 2. 37 A A 10…”

“…To ease comparison, the measured UV−vis absorbance was normalized to reduce the effect of dilution by the pH adjusters (NaOH or CH 3 COOH) on the absorbance spectrum using eq 5. 37 A…”