Processing of Apeiba tibourbou Aubl. extract via spray drying

Abstract

The effects of drying air inlet temperature (IT) and concentration of Aerosil® 200 (C<SUB>A</SUB>) on several properties of spray-dried Apeiba tibourbou extracts were investigated following a 3<SUP>2</SUP> full factorial design. Powder recovery varied from 9.83 to 46.95% and dried products showed moisture contents below 7%. Although the spray-dried products lost some of their polyphenols, they still present excellent antioxidant activity, opening perspectives for its use to medicinal purpose. C<SUB>A</SUB> exerted a key role on the properties of spray-dried extracts, while IT did not present a significative influence. Aerosil® 200 proved to be an interesting alternative as an excipient for the drying of the herbal extract, even at intermediate concentrations such as 15%. The best combination of conditions to use for obtaining dry A. tibourbou extracts with adequate physicochemical and functional properties involves an IT of 100 ºC and a C<SUB>A</SUB> of 15%.