Effect of High-Pressure Homogenization on Physicochemical Properties and Antioxidant Activity of Hawthorn Pectin

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effect of high-pressure homogenization (HPH) on hawthorn pectin's physicochemical properties and antioxidant activity. The results of the study showed that the galacturonic acid (Gal A) content of hawthorn pectin increased by 12%, esterification decreased by 12%, and the molecular weight and its distribution decreased at a high-pressure homogenization pressure of 150 MPa and several times. FT-IR showed that the measurements of pectin were degraded. According to the results of four in vitro antioxidant activity experiments used in this study, the antioxidant activity of hawthorn pectin was effectively enhanced. Therefore, high-pressure homogenization is a practical modification method that can enhance pectin's antioxidant activity by changing its relevant physicochemical properties