Evaluación de la capacidad antioxidante del extracto de chirimote (Disterigma empetrifolium) microencapsulado mediante secado por aspersión

Abstract

The cherimote Disterigma empetrifolium (Kunth) Drude, a species native to the Ecuadorian Andes, is an important source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant potential. Microencapsulation of its extracts is an effective strategy for protecting sensitive compounds, such as polyphenols and other antioxidants, from thermal and oxidative degradation processes, a fundamental aspect for their application in highly stable functional products. An ethnobotanical study was conducted in the Teligote community, demonstrating that the inhabitants maintain a clear understanding of the uses and benefits of the cherimote, supporting its sustainable use. Different extraction conditions for phenolic compounds were evaluated, and the optimal combination was determined to be a 30-minute extraction time and a 1:20 solid-to-liquid ratio. These parameters maximized antioxidant extraction, and a two-squared experimental design was used. The resulting extract was microencapsulated by spray drying, achieving efficient protection of the bioactive compounds and yielding a stable powder suitable for technological applications. Antioxidant activity was determined using the DPPH method. Results showed values of 362 plus or minus 13.25 micromole Trolox equivalents for the extract and 258.041 plus or minus 19.84 micromoles for the microencapsulated product, while the DPPH inhibition percentage reached 76.103 percent in the free extract and 28.080 percent in the microencapsulated formulation. These results demonstrate that microencapsulation helps preserve antioxidant capacity and facilitates its application in the food industry, thus enabling the formulation of various types of functional foods.