Response surface methodology-optimized extraction of flavonoids with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities from the exocarp of three genera of coconut and characterization by HPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS

Response surface methodology optimization based on central composite design was applied to extract flavonoids from the exocarp of three coconut genera. The antioxidant and antimicrobial activities and structures of the flavonoids were determined. The results indicated that the optimal extraction conditions were ethanol concentration, 60%; temperature, 50 ℃; time, 90 min; liquid/material ratio, 40 mL/g; ultrasonic power, 150 W. Under these conditions, the yields of green, red and yellow coconut exocarp were 366.03 ± 7.57, 596.38 ± 10.32, and 403.78 ± 5.56 mg rutin/g powder, respectively. The flavonoids exhibited eminent DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities with IC50 values of 0.01-0.02 mg/mL. At a concentration of 2 mg/mL, they exhibited antimicrobial activity against Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In total, 17 flavonoids and 5 phenolic acids were characterized by UPLC-IT-TOF-MS/MS; among them, catechin, kaempferol, and quercetin were abundant. Yellow coconut had a distinct flavonoid spectrogram from other genera and contained more methoxy flavonoids.