Nutraceutical tablets from maqui berry (Aristotelia chilensis) spray-dried powders with high antioxidant levels

The aim of the present work was the development of a nutraceutical product from maqui fruits rich in antioxidants. Based on an aqueous fruit extract with high levels of polyphenols and anthocyanins, maqui powder was obtained by spray drying using SiO2 as drying adjuvant. Using a factorial statistical design, optimal operating conditions were found to obtain powders with high content of antioxidants and physical properties suitable for direct compression. The atomization flowrate was the factor that most affected the studied responses. At low atomization flowrates a powder of intense purple color, good flowability (Carr index = 13.4 +/- 2.5%; angle of repose = 22.3 +/- 1.6 degrees), appropriate physical stability (T-g = 55.6 degrees C; hygroscopicity = 16.5 +/- 0.4 g/100 g), high anthocyanin content (1573 +/- 68 mg cyanidin-3-glucoside/100 g), and high polyphenol content (4365 +/- 57 mg gallic acid equivalent/100 g) were obtained. Besides, the powder was suitable for the production of nutraceutical tablets of rapid disintegration and release of bioactive compounds.