Abstract

Unlike conventional extraction (CE) methods, high hydrostatic pressure extraction (HHPE) uses less solvent volume and reduced extraction times. We show here that HHPE increases extractability, antioxidant capacity and bio-accessibility of the bioactive compounds from discarded blueberries when compared to CE. Bioactive compounds were extracted by CE with agitation and by HHPE at 500 MPa for 5, 10 and 15 min. The highest content of anthocyanins (117.08mg 100g(-1) FW), polyphenols (9.56mg 100g(-1) FW), flavonoids (0.62mg 100g(-1) FW) and antioxidant capacities (1853.69 and 2059.55 mu Mg-1 FW for DPPH and FRAP, respectively) with HHPE for 15 min. Likewise, HHPE for 15 min resulted in the highest bio-accessibility of polyphenols (62.2%) and flavonoids (62.2%), whereas 85.1% and 60.9% of antioxidant capacity measured as DPPH and FRAP, respectively. Only anthocyanins showed decreased bio-accessibility after HHPE. Antioxidant potential of discarded blueberries can be enhanced with HHPE by increasing the extractability of bioactive compounds and their bio-accessibility.