Acerola cherry (Malpighia emarginata) concentrate: separation and purification of vitamin C components and research on immune-regulating synergy

This study aims to determine the optimal conditions for isolating and purifying the bioactive components in acerola cherry concentrate (ACC), assess their immunomodulatory effects, and establish a foundation for the extensive utilization of acerola cherry (AC).

Vitamin C (VC) in ACC was purified and characterized using optimized HPLC and NMR spectroscopy. The concentrate was divided into VC, de-VC, and AC, each with five concentration gradients. The immunoregulatory effects of each group on mice were assessed through delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) and carbon clearance test.

VC can be isolated and purified in batches using a 100 DAC column with a loading volume of 0.3% and characterized as VC by NMR. The delayed-type hypersensitivity (DTH) results indicate a significant increase in ear weight difference between the AC1 and AC3 groups (P < 0.05). Additionally, the carbon clearance test showed a significant improvement in the VC2, de-VC1, de-VC2, de-VC3, and AC1-5 carbon clearance functions (P < 0.05).

The separation of VC and de-VC in ACC was successfully achieved. DTH and carbon clearance test revealed that ACC enhanced mouse immunity. However, the efficacy of the concentrate was found to diminish following isolation and purification, indicating that the VC and de-VC segments in the concentrate may have exhibited synergistic effects.