Aqueous extraction and drying of yausabara mucilage (Pavonia sepium A. St.-Hil.)

Abstract

The objective of this research work was to evaluate the aqueous extraction process for obtaining mucilage from yausabara (Pavonia sepium A. St.-Hil.), a mucilaginous plant found in various wet areas. The research arose from the need to offer alternatives to the agro-industrial sector. The aqueous extracts of the mucilage were obtained from peeled stems, both chopped and ground, using solid-liquid ratios of 1:4 and 1:6, over periods of 6, 12, and 24 hours. The viscosity, turbidity, and total solid content of these extracts were determined. An optimal extraction run was achieved (peeled and chopped stems with a solid-liquid ratio of 1:4 for 20.42 hours), resulting in a viscosity of 51.72 mPa·s, turbidity of 2600 NTU, and a total solid content of 0.87%. The mucilage was precipitated with ethanol from the aqueous extract, and the precipitate was then dried at 40 ºC in an oven for 3 days. The antioxidant capacity and total phenolic content of the obtained powder were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP methods, respectively. The powdered mucilage showed a total phenolic content of 0.0046 mg/g and an antioxidant capacity expressed as Fe²⁺, of 18.63 µM/g of powder, values that are low compared to those reported for plant-derived extracts.