From Agricultural Waste to Functional Tea: Optimized Processing Enhances Bioactive Flavonoid Recovery and Antioxidant Capacity with Multifaceted Health Benefits in Loquat (<i>Eriobotrya japonica</i> Lindl.) Flowers
The large-scale disposal of loquat (<i>Eriobotrya japonica</i> Lindl.) flowers during fruit thinning represents a significant waste of bioactive resources. This study systematically evaluated how three processing methods—fresh (FS), heat-dried (HD), and freeze-dried (FD) treatments—affec...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-07-01
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| Series: | Horticulturae |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/11/7/766 |
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| Summary: | The large-scale disposal of loquat (<i>Eriobotrya japonica</i> Lindl.) flowers during fruit thinning represents a significant waste of bioactive resources. This study systematically evaluated how three processing methods—fresh (FS), heat-dried (HD), and freeze-dried (FD) treatments—affect the flavonoid composition and antioxidant capacity of loquat flower extracts, with the aim of developing value-added, sugar-free functional tea ingredients. Using UPLC-MS/MS and DPPH assays, we analyzed both pre-(FS/HD/FD) and post-extraction samples (FSP/HDP/FDP) to assess processing-specific metabolic signatures and extraction efficiency. The results revealed that heat-dried powder (HDP) exhibited the highest total flavonoid content and DPPH scavenging capacity (615.24 µg Trolox/g), attributed to enhanced release of stable compounds like quercetin. Freeze-dried powder (FDP) better preserved heat-sensitive flavonoids, such as catechin-(4α→8)-gallocatechin and naringenin, but showed lower overall antioxidant activity. Multivariate analysis confirmed distinct clustering patterns, with heat-drying favoring flavonoid extractability while freeze-drying maintained metabolic diversity. These findings demonstrate that processing methods significantly influence bioactive compound retention and functionality, with heat-drying offering optimal balance between yield and practicality for industrial applications. This work provides a scientific foundation for upcycling loquat flowers into standardized nutraceutical ingredients, addressing both agricultural waste reduction and the growing demand for natural functional foods. |
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| ISSN: | 2311-7524 |