Optimization of a Microwave-Assisted Extraction Method for the Recovery of the Anthocyanins from Jabuticaba By-Products

In this study, a Box-Behnken Design (BBD) has been used to optimize the recovery of bioactive compounds from jabuticaba (Myrciaria cauliflora) by-products through microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). Thus, the Box-Behnken (BBD) experimental design was followed by a response surface methodology (RSM) that would allow investigating the influence of the four independent variables (temperature, solvent composition, pH, and sample-solvent ratio) that have been considered. The results revealed that temperature and solvent composition (%MeOH) were the most significant factors regarding the yields of anthocyanins obtained from the studied plant matrix. The established optimized conditions and 10-min-extraction time resulted in yields of 9.70 +/- 0.28 mg g(-1) of total anthocyanins. The method exhibited good repeatability and intermediate precision, with RSD variations lower than 5% for both parameters. The developed process was also able to extract and identify anthocyanins in commercial samples (jabuticaba pulp and jam). The results obtained from the optimized MAE method suggest that this technique is not only efficient for the recovery of anthocyanins from jabuticaba by-products, but it is also beneficial for a circular economy approach.