Ultrasound-Assisted Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents Extraction of Bilberry Anthocyanins: Optimization, Bioactivities, and Storage Stability

Abstract

Bilberry fruits (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) are one of the richest natural sources of anthocyanins and are widely used due to their pharmacological and nutritional properties. To ensure their maximum application potential, it is necessary to overcome the limitations of conventional extraction solvents and techniques. This study aimed to develop a green method for bilberry anthocyanin extraction using natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDES) integrated with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in order to define extraction conditions that will prevent decomposition of the anthocyanins or the loss of bioactivity. After a screening of ten different NaDES, choline chloride:sorbitol (1:1) was selected as the most effective. Furthermore, the influence analysis and optimization of the NaDES–UAE extraction conditions were carried out employing response surface methodology. The optimal conditions were found to be an extraction time of 37.63 min, a temperature of 48.38 °C, and 34.79% (w/w) water in NaDES. The extraction yields of target compounds under optimized extraction conditions were 0.27 mg/g DW of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and 2.12 mg CGE/g DW of TAC. The obtained optimized extract showed promising radical scavenging and antimicrobial activity. A stability study with the optimized extract revealed that refrigerated storage at 4 °C in the dark provided the best anthocyanins preservation. Overall, the developed NaDES-UAE method showed promising application potential and can be considered as a high-efficiency green alternative to conventional anthocyanins extraction methods, enabling the preservation of active ingredients and the bioactivity of extracts.

The Research Progress of Extraction, Purification and Analysis Methods of Phenolic Compounds from Blueberry: A Comprehensive Review

“…The results showed that choline chloride:sorbitol (1:1) was the most efficient extraction solvent. Thecyanoglyco-3-o-glucoside yield was 0.2751 mg/g DW and the TAC yield was 2.12 mg CGE/g under optimal extraction conditions (37.63 min, 48.38 • C, 34.79% (w/w) water in NADES) [15]. DES extracted polyphenols, carbohydrates and lipids and could be employed for food safety monitoring and biosensor development as a feasible alternative.…”

Active and Intelligent Biodegradable Packaging Based on Anthocyanins for Preserving and Monitoring Protein-Rich Foods

“…Jovanović et al developed a NADES-based extraction process for elderberry anthocyanins. The study showed that anthocyanins extracted using a ChCl/xylitol NADES exhibited the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and had better stability [20]. Moreover, the acidity of the solution can affect the extraction efficiency of anthocyanins.…”

Eco-Friendly and Efficient Extraction of Polysaccharides from Acanthopanax senticosus by Ultrasound-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent

“…Therefore, they can effectively extract polar or non-polar components from plants. They have been widely used to extract natural active substances from plants, such as polysaccharides [ 29 ], flavonoids [ 30 , 31 ], phenols [ 32 ], and anthocyanins [ 33 , 34 ]. They are more effective than traditional extraction solvents for extracting natural active molecules.…”