Background: Dietary fiber (DF) and antioxidant compounds are widely used as functional ingredients. The market in this field is competitive and the search for new types of quality ingredients for the food industry is intensifying. The aim of this study was to evaluate the composition and antioxidant activity of by-products generated during the decoction of calyces of four Mexican Hibiscus sabdariffa L. cultivars ('Criolla', 'China', 'Rosalis' and 'Tecoanapa') in order to assess them as a source of functional ingredients.
Results: Some calyx components were partially transferred to the beverage during the decoction process, while most were retained in the decoction residues. These by-products proved to be a good source of DF (407.4-457.0 g kg⁻¹ dry matter) and natural antioxidants (50.7-121.8 µmol Trolox equivalent g⁻¹ dry matter).
Conclusion: The decoction process extracted some soluble carbohydrates, ash and some extractable polyphenols. The DF content changed in the dried residues, which could be considered as high-DF materials with a high proportion of soluble DF (∼20% of total DF) and considerable antioxidant capacity. These by-products could be used as an antioxidant DF source.
Keywords: Hibiscus sabdariffa L; antioxidant dietary fiber; by-products; polyphenols.
© 2013 Society of Chemical Industry.