Effects of high hydrostatic pressure processing and supercritical fluid extraction on bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of Cape gooseberry pulp (Physalis peruviana L.)

The aim of this study was to combine high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) and SFE-CO₂ to extract bioactive compounds with antioxidant capacity (phenolics and β-carotene) from Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) pulp. Extracts were evaluated immediately after processing by HHP at 300–400–500 MPa/1-3–5 min, respectively, and after 60 days of storage at 4 °C. Treatments at 300 MPa/1 min and 400 MPa/3 min showed an increase of antioxidant capacity compared to control untreated samples at day 0. Treatments at 500 MPa presented the highest antioxidant capacity (12388.3 μmol TE/100 g d.m.) after storage. Samples treated at 400 MPa/3 min presented a high content of total phenols at day 60. The highest β-carotene content was observed at 300 MPa/3 min (5.51 mg β-carotene/100 g d.m.). Our results indicate that HHP treatments combined with SFE-CO₂ can promote active ingredient release in fruit matrices, increasing their bioactivities, as seen with antioxidant activity.