Cranberry pomace is a byproduct of cranberry processing and is comprised of seeds, skins and stems of
the cranberry fruit. While cranberry pomace contains beneficial polyphenols, including proanthocyanidins
and anthocyanins, it is not a palatable source of these compounds and is typically discarded. In this
study, we have developed and optimized a method to extract polyphenols from cranberry pomace using
aqueous ethanol, a food grade solvent. Biochemical characterization of the pomace extract showed the
presence of a broad range of polyphenols also present in cranberry juice concentrate. By co-drying cranberry
pomace extract with a protein-rich food matrix, such as soy protein isolate (SPI), we have developed
a method to produce a cranberry polyphenol–SPI complex (CBP-SPI) containing 10% cranberry
polyphenols. Unlike dried cranberry pomace extract alone, proanthocyanidins, anthocyanins and total
polyphenols were found to be highly stable at 37 C in the CBP-SPI powder. The extraction and stabilization
of cranberry pomace polyphenols using SPI provides an innovative approach for utilizing pomace in
the development of novel food ingredients.
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