<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Edible flowers are rich in bioactive compounds and pigments that are on increasing demand in nutraceutical, medicinal, food, cosmetic and dyeing industries. This study evaluated the anthocyanins, phenolics and antioxidant activity of eight edible flowers (<italic>Bellis perennis</italic> L., <italic>Centaurea cyanus</italic> L., <italic>Dianthus</italic> <italic>carthusianorum</italic> L., <italic>Lavandula angustifolia</italic> Mill., <italic>Primula vulgaris</italic> Huds., <italic>Rosa canina</italic> L., <italic>Rosa pendulina</italic> L. and <italic>Viola odorata</italic> L.) after 24 h of hot drying (50 °C; natural convection stove) or cold drying (CD) (22 °C; heat-pump drying system). The hot-dried and cold-dried materials were then used to prepare ultrasound-assisted extracts, which are used as food additives or as a source of natural colourants, or decoctions (DECs), which are used for herbal teas. The edible flower UAEs and DECs had high amounts of anthocyanins (up to 3,284.6 mg C3G · 100 g-1), phenolics (up to 9,034 mg · 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity (866 μmol TE · g-1, 4,901 mmol Fe2+ · kg-1), with roses having the highest amount. The anthocyanin content and phenolic profile (flavonols, benzoic acids, cinnamic acids and flavanols) of edible flowers are found to be affected by drying and extraction methods. For decoctions, CD was found to be the most efficient drying method for all the parameters. For UAEs, CD resulted in a higher anthocyanin content, while hot drying resulted in a higher phenolic content, particularly flavanols. Overall, the studied edible flower extracts and decoctions can contribute to healthy and coloured substances, which can be used for designing innovative natural products. <italic>Rosa pendulina</italic> and <italic>R. canina</italic> are the most promising sources.
</abstract>

Edible flowers are rich in bioactive compounds and pigments that are on increasing demand in nutraceutical, medicinal, food, cosmetic and dyeing industries. This study evaluated the anthocyanins, phenolics and antioxidant activity of eight edible flowers (Bellis perennis L., Centaurea cyanus L., Dianthus carthusianorum L., Lavandula angustifolia Mill., Primula vulgaris Huds., Rosa canina L., Rosa pendulina L. and Viola odorata L.) after 24 h of hot drying (50 °C; natural convection stove) or cold drying (CD) (22 °C; heat-pump drying system). The hot-dried and cold-dried materials were then used to prepare ultrasound-assisted extracts, which are used as food additives or as a source of natural colourants, or decoctions (DECs), which are used for herbal teas. The edible flower UAEs and DECs had high amounts of anthocyanins (up to 3,284.6 mg C3G · 100 g-1), phenolics (up to 9,034 mg · 100 g-1) and antioxidant activity (866 μmol TE · g-1, 4,901 mmol Fe2+ · kg-1), with roses having the highest amount. The anthocyanin content and phenolic profile (flavonols, benzoic acids, cinnamic acids and flavanols) of edible flowers are found to be affected by drying and extraction methods. For decoctions, CD was found to be the most efficient drying method for all the parameters. For UAEs, CD resulted in a higher anthocyanin content, while hot drying resulted in a higher phenolic content, particularly flavanols. Overall, the studied edible flower extracts and decoctions can contribute to healthy and coloured substances, which can be used for designing innovative natural products. Rosa pendulina and R. canina are the most promising sources.

Hot and cold drying of edible flowers affect metabolite patterns of extracts and decoctions

Folia Horticulturae

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Edible flowers are rich in bioactive compounds and pigments that are on increasing demand in nutraceutical, medicinal, food, cosmetic and dyeing industries....

Hot and cold drying of edible flowers affect metabolite patterns of extracts and decoctions

Article Category: ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Published Online: Jun 26, 2023

Page range: 193 - 207

Received: Oct 04, 2022

Accepted: Apr 05, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2023-0015

Keywords
additives, anthocyanins, heat pump drying, HPLC, natural colourants, phenolics

© 2023 Demasi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Hot and cold drying of edible flowers affect metabolite patterns of extracts and decoctions

Article Category: ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Published Online: Jun 26, 2023

Page range: 193 - 207

Received: Oct 04, 2022

Accepted: Apr 05, 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/fhort-2023-0015

Keywordsadditives, anthocyanins, heat pump drying, HPLC, natural colourants, phenolics

© 2023 Demasi et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
additives, anthocyanins, heat pump drying, HPLC, natural colourants, phenolics