Application of saponins extract from food byproducts for the removal of pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables

Vegetables and fruits may contain pesticides, leading to several health complications after long-term exposure. The food byproducts of soybean and camellia seed cake contain abundant saponins but are poorly utilized. This study aimed to investigate the capacity of soybean byproduct-extracted saponins (SBE) and camellia seed cake-extracted saponins (CSE) to remove pesticide residues in fruits and vegetables. Total saponin contents of soybean byproducts and camellia seed cake were 40.32 ± 1.50 mg/g and 216.49 ± 0.79 mg/g, respectively. Pesticide residues in field-sprayed fruits and vegetables were significantly dislodged by 0.1 mg/mL SBE- or CSE-assisted aeration washing processes compared to tap water and commercial detergent cleaning products. The results indicate that aeration combined with SBE or CSE is an effective technique for removing pesticide residues. In conclusion, these results provide compelling evidence that SBE and CSE are eco-friendly for washing pesticide residues off, and may be suitable for applying the fresh-cut vegetables and fruits industry.