Quince seeds biopolymer: Extraction, drying methods and evaluation

Abstract

Background: Quince seeds mucilage is recommended for coughs and removal of asthma signs. Chemically, it possesses water in a large quantity and therefore might be degradable and its storage is difficult for a long time. Besides, the drying method interferes with its physicochemical characteristic, therefore changing the therapeutic effect of mucilage. Objectives: The aim of this study was to achieve a drying method for promotion of quince seeds mucilage stability and also to study differences in physicochemical and mechanical properties when influenced by the drying method. Materials and Methods: To extract mucilage, fresh quince seeds were macerated with water. The alcohol (95%) precipitation method was used to isolate mucilage from filtrate. The mucilage was divided to two equal parts, one group dried by cold and the other by the warm method. The condition for the cold method (lyophilization) was 24 hours for both stages of freezing (-30°C) and drying (-50°C and 50 mTorr pressure). The temperature for drying by an oven was also adjusted to 50°C ± 1. Phytochemical screening was performed, and the physicochemical characteristics of the mucilage such as swelling index, solubility, loss of drying, total ash, acid insoluble ash, microbial load, and pH were evaluated. Finally, the mechanical movement of mucilage powder properties such as angle of repose, moisture content, bulk and tapped densities, Hausner's ratio and Carr's index, were examined, for forward tableting. Results: The yield value of mucilage from the warm method was about three folds greater than the amount from the cold method. The phytochemical, physicochemical, and mechanical properties were well within acceptable limits and better than that of the cold method. Conclusions: Although quince seeds dried mucilage by lyophilization had less yield amounts yet in view of purity and physicochemical and mechanical properties, it was significantly better than mucilage prepared by the oven method (P < 0.05).