Curativo biopolimérico a base de alginato de sódio e extrato de araçá-vermelho (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine)

Abstract

With the growing demand for natural materials that do not harm the environment and that have benefits for the human body, sustainable raw materials are increasingly the research focus. Natural polymers are obtained from renewable sources or synthesized by microorganisms and present less damage to nature due to their biodegradability. In addition, they are non-toxic and biocompatible, being attractive characteristics for the medical field, in the formulation of materials incorporated with medicines, plant extracts or essential oils, which attribute pharmacological properties to the product. Among plant matrices with health benefits, the red araçá (Psidium cattleyanum Sabine), which is considered a native fruit of Rio Grande do Sul, draws attention for its characteristics, such as exotic flavor, nutritional properties, with high vitamin C content, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial activity. The objective of this work was to optimize the extraction of red araçá epicarp and to produce reticulated sodium alginate membranes added with the extract. Initially, the experimental methodology was based on the study of the extraction conditions of red araçá bioactive compounds. Experimental design was carried out to evaluate the influence of temperature and the concentration of hydroalcoholic solvent on the bioactive compounds in the extract (total phenolic compounds, antioxidant activity and total anthocyanins). The results indicated that the highest extraction of bioactives occurred in the lowest concentrations of ethanol. The temperature did not show high influence on the extraction of phenolic compounds, with a higher effect on the anthocyanin content. It was possible to optimize the experimental conditions using the desirability technique in order to maximize the presence of these compounds in the extract: temperature of 76 °C and solvent concentration of 31.8% ethanol v/v. Sodium alginate membranes showed interesting characteristics for application as dressings, such as good thickness, malleability, mechanical resistance, insolubility in water due to the reticulation process and water vapor permeation capacity. Furthermore, in a controlled environment, it was able to release bioactive coumpounds from extract.