Polyphenols or polyhydroxyphenols are chemical compounds that occur in nature, but can be also synthesized chemically. As polyphenols act as antioxidants, they are known as health-beneficial bio-compound and the consumption of polyphenol-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, cereals, tea and coffee is linked to a reduced risk of chronic diseases.
Fruits like berries, grapes, apples, pears, and cherries show a high polyphenol content containing up to 200–300mg polyphenols per 100 grams fresh weight. Subsequently, products manufactured from these fruits, also contain significant amounts of polyphenols.
The class of polyphenols includes tannins, catechins, epicatechins, flavanones, isoflavones, phloridzin, quercitin etc. In foods, polyphenols contribute to the bitterness, astringency, color, flavor, smell and oxidative stability. Therefore, polyphenol extracts, e.g. from grape skin, grape seeds, olive pulp, citrus peel, or maritime pine bark, are sold as ingredients for functional foods, dietary supplements, and cosmetics.
As secondary metabolites of plants, polyphenols are located within the cell matrix. In order to produce polyphenol-rich foods such as olive oil, wine, juices, purees or extracts, the polyphenols must be released from the plant cells. Ultrasonic extraction is a powerful method to break cell structures of botanicals and to release them into the surrounding liquid. As a non-thermal technique, ultrasonic extraction prevents the thermal decomposition of the heat-labil polyphenols. At the same time, sonication is a process-intensifying method, which increases the extraction yield and accelerates the process speed. Ultrasonic extraction is used to produce superior polyphenol extracts. Available from lab to industrial scale, ultrasonic processors can be easily implemented into your production line to improve your extraction process.

Read more about the benefits of ultrasonic extraction of polyphenols from botanical raw materials!