ULTRASOUND-ASSISTED EXTRACTION AND ANTICANCER ACTIVITY OF PICEATANNOL FROM Passiflora edulis SEED

Abstract

      Ultrasound-assisted extraction of piceatannol from Passiflora edulis seeds was studied. Effects of ethanol concentration, temperature, and ultrasonic time were investigated. The best extraction conditions were as follows: ethanol concentration, 80% (v/v); temperature, 70^oC; and extraction time, 30 min. Under the optimal conditions, the yield of piceatannol content was 4.5 ± 0.17 mg per gram of seed dry matter. The freeze-dried piceatannol extract powder exhibited anticancer activity against two cancer cell lines, HeLa and MCF7. This study should be considered as a first step for the production of piceatannol-rich products to be used as nutraceuticals from passion fruit seeds, a by-product of passion fruit juice production.