Identification and Quantification of Polyphenols from Pineapple Peel by High Performance Liquid Chromatography Analysis

High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is an important analytical method applied for the separation and quantification of phenolic constituents. The present study concerned with the characterization of polyphenols from petroleum ether, ethyl acetate, ethanol and water extracts of pineapple peel by HPLC analysis. Due to poor waste management practices, pineapple processing industries produced huge amount of peel usually thrown away as waste creates pollution. Pineapple peel could be a potential source for the extraction of beneficial bioactive phenolic compounds used widely in pharmaceutical industries. The results of this study revealed the presence of 13 different polyphenols in pineapple peel. Among the four extracts evaluated ethyl acetate and ethanol showed maximum number of polyphenols. Apigenin, a natural flavone having significant anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-carcinogenic properties reported firstly from pineapple peel. The quantification of phenolic acids by HPLC analysis of the pineapple peel resulted polyphenol viz. myrecetin (20.31192 µg/mg) in highest amount followed by gallic acid (15.99272 µg/mg) and elagic acid (10.17904 µg/mg). Fractionation and quantification of phenolic constituents by HPLC analysis is a prerequisite for further studies and thereby utilizing this waste and established a waste management program. Further studies are warranted to isolate and purify the lead phenolic constituent from this waste, evaluate the biological potentialities and its application in pharmaceutical industries.