Optimization of purification conditions for areca seeds using microporous resins

As a synthetic macroporous polymer adsorbent, resin can selectively adsorb the target components in water and nonwater systems through electrostatic force, hydrogen bond, and complexation to achieve the separation and purification of substances. Moreover, it is easy to regenerate and can be repeatedly used. Macroporous resins exhibit high adsorption capacity toward organic molecules and have been widely used in the separation and purification of bioactive substances. Polyphenols obtained from areca seed extracts exhibit high antioxidant properties. Herein, the ability of AB-8, NKA-9, A-8, X-5, and XAD-75 macroporous resins to purify polyphenols obtained from betel nut seeds was evaluated and compared. The adsorption mechanism was described using the Langmuir and Freundlich equations, and the purification parameters were optimized using adsorption–desorption experiments. To determine the purity of each component, the polyphenol content in the five macroporous resins was analyzed. Results show that the initial concentration of polyphenols was 3.0 mg/mL, pH was 3.0, the concentration of ethanol desorption solution was 50% (V/V), and the flow rate of elution was 2 mg/mL after purification using XAD-7. The purified products obtained using XAD-7 exhibited a stronger antioxidant activity than those obtained using the other four macroporous resins.