abstract
- This study evaluated the effect of Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) processing on the recovery of phytochemical compounds and antioxidant capacity in Selaginella lepidophylla. Although this species is traditionally used in Mexico, information regarding its antioxidant-related compounds remains limited. A central composite design was applied to assess 13 DIC treatments using steam pressures between 0.1 and 0.4 MPa and treatment times from 15 to 40 s. Treatment at 0.36 MPa for 36 s resulted in the highest total phenolic content (9.01 mg gallic acid equivalents (mg GAE/g dry matter), total flavonoid content (16.15 mg rutin equivalents (mg RE/g dry matter), and ABTS antioxidant capacity (29.66 mg Trolox equivalents (mg TE/g dry matter), while the highest DPPH antioxidant capacity (6.31 TE/g dry matter) was obtained at 0.14 MPa for 19 s. In general, DIC pretreatment increased phenolic- and flavonoid-related responses, as well as antioxidant capacity, compared with untreated samples. These results indicate that DIC processing may improve the recovery of antioxidant-related compounds from S. lepidophylla.