Purple corn (Zea mays L.) pericarp hydroalcoholic extracts obtained by conventional processes at atmospheric pressure and by processes at high pressure

Extracts of Peruvian purple corn pericarp (Zea mays L.) were obtained: (1) via supercritical fluid extraction with CO2 as solvent and EtOH-H2O (70:30, v/v) as co-solvent, (2) via pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with EtOH-H2O (70:30, v/v) and, (3) via two conventional extraction processes, stirred vessel and Soxhlet. The extraction yields and extract compositions were compared to each other. The parameters measured were the point-to-point extraction yield, the global extraction yield and composition of extracts regarding contents of total phenolics, total flavonoids, total anthocyanins and specific anthocyanins such as cyanidin-3-glucoside, peonidin-3-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-glucoside. Antioxidant activity by DPPH and in vitro antiproliferative activity were also evaluated considering seven cancer cell lines. High yields and higher contents of phenolic compounds, accompanied by a high antioxidant activity at 50 degrees C, were obtained for supercritical extraction at 60 degrees C. Antioxidant activity showed good correlation with the content of phenolic compounds, but there was no antiproliferative activity.