The world is witnessing increasing interest in natural products derived from agricultural waste, and sugarcane peel is no exception. A recent study by researchers investigates the ultrasound-assisted enzymatic extraction of polysaccharides from sugarcane peels, focusing on optimizing extraction conditions and assessing the antioxidant benefits these polysaccharides might offer.
Sugarcane, known for its economic importance, can produce considerable waste through its peel, which accounts for around 20% of the entire plant's biomass. Traditionally discarded as agricultural waste, the skin of sugarcane is rich not only in polysaccharides but also holds antioxidants, flavonoids, and other bioactive compounds. This new research opens avenues for both environmental sustainability and health benefits by transforming waste material.
The study outlines the methodical approach taken to extract sugarcane peel polysaccharides (SPP) efficiently. The researchers experimented with various factors affecting extraction, including the liquid-material ratio, ultrasonic temperature, ultrasonic extraction time, and cellulase enzyme dosage. After conducting one-way experiments and response surface analysis, they found the optimal conditions for extraction. Specifically, they determined the best parameters to be a liquid-material ratio of 40 mL/g, 50 degrees Celsius for ultrasound temperature, 40 minutes for ultrasound duration, and 5% for the cellulase enzyme dosage. Under these carefully calibrated conditions, the yield of SPP reached 5.38%, with total sugar content calculated to be 75.52%.
Beyond just extraction yield, the antioxidant activities of the polysaccharides were also evaluated. The researchers employed DPPH and hydroxyl radical scavenging tests to assess how effectively the extracted polysaccharides could neutralize harmful free radicals—an important facet as oxidative stress is associated with various diseases, including cancer and aging-related disorders. Findings indicated notable scavenging abilities; the polysaccharides exhibited DPPH radical scavenging rates of 54.63% and hydroxyl radical scavenging rates of 33.91% at concentrations of 4 mg/mL.
This advance not only reaffirms the economic value of sugarcane peel but also supports broader scientific insights. The effective extraction of these polysaccharides using ultrasonic enzymatic methods holds promises for industries focused on natural preservatives or dietary supplements, highlighting the potential for creating value from what was previously considered waste. The lead author reflected on these prospects, stating, "The present study demonstrated ultrasound-assisted enzymes can effectively extract SPP with antioxidant activity, which provides a theoretical basis for developing and utilizing sugarcane peel polysaccharides and has potential application value."
For industries interested in sustainable practices, adopting this innovative extraction technology could minimize waste and promote the development of healthier products. Moving forward, leveraging sugarcane peel's bioactivity for functional foods, pharmaceuticals, or nutraceuticals could address both economic and environmental challenges.
While the current study lays groundwork, the authors pointed out, "The optimized extraction conditions were reliable and could be applied in actual production," encouraging future research to explore additional methodologies for even greater extraction efficiency and additional bioactivity investigations. Given the extensive waste generated by sugarcane production worldwide, tapping its dormant potential could revolutionize its sustainability footprint.