RT info:eu-repo/semantics/article
T1 Boosting betalain bioaccessibility from prickly pear peel through pulsed electric fields (PEF) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE)
A1 Calleja Gomez, Mara
A1 Pallarés, Noelia
A1 Gaona Ruiz, María
A1 Barba, Francisco J.
A1 Carrillo Pérez, Celia
K1 Bioaccessibility
K1 In vitro digestion
K1 Pigments
K1 Revalorization
K1 Green technologies
K1 Bioquímica
K1 Biochemistry
AB Betalains are bioactive pigments with antioxidant and health-promoting potential, abundant in prickly pear (Opuntia ficus-indica) peel, an underutilized by-product. This study evaluated the efficiency of pulsed electric fields (PEF) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for betalain recovery and their impact on compound bioaccessibility after in vitro digestion. Freeze-dried peels were treated with PEF (2.5 kV/cm, 50 kJ/kg) and PLE (50 °C, 1500 psi, pH 7), and compared to conventional aqueous maceration. Betalains were quantified by UV/Vis and characterized by LC-Q-TOF-MS/MS, while bioaccessibility was assessed using the INFOGEST protocol. PLE increased total betalain yield by 36.3%, whereas PEF enhanced bioaccessibility despite a lower initial concentration. Both techniques preserved 21–22 betalain derivatives, including indicaxanthin and betanin, showing high stability during digestion. These results highlight the potential of PEF and PLE as sustainable technologies for efficient extraction and stabilization of betalains, supporting circular bioeconomy strategies through the valorization of prickly pear peels.
PB Elsevier
SN 0308-8146
YR 2026
FD 2026-07
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11659
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10259/11659
LA spa
NO This research is part of the project PID2021-123628OB-C42 funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, UE. Mara Calleja-Gómez is a beneficiary of the predoctoral grant from the Conselleria d'Educació, Universitats i Ocupació of Generalitat Valenciana (CIACIF/2022/391).
DS Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Burgos
RD 05-oct-2026