Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel

Abstract The peel of pomegranate (Punica granatum) is rich in bioactive compounds, specifically phenolic compounds and tannin compounds. However, there is still a lot of difficulty dealing with the extraction of these substances due to the limitations of traditional methods. Microwave-assisted extra...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Fatemeh Mobasheri, Mostafa Khajeh, Mansour Ghaffari-Moghaddam, Jamshid Piri, Mousa Bohlooli
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-06-01
Series:Scientific Reports
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04798-4
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849434372372955136
author Fatemeh Mobasheri
Mostafa Khajeh
Mansour Ghaffari-Moghaddam
Jamshid Piri
Mousa Bohlooli
author_facet Fatemeh Mobasheri
Mostafa Khajeh
Mansour Ghaffari-Moghaddam
Jamshid Piri
Mousa Bohlooli
author_sort Fatemeh Mobasheri
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The peel of pomegranate (Punica granatum) is rich in bioactive compounds, specifically phenolic compounds and tannin compounds. However, there is still a lot of difficulty dealing with the extraction of these substances due to the limitations of traditional methods. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has shown promise, but optimizing it for maximum efficiency and yield remains a challenge. In this work, a microwave-assisted extraction improved using machine learning approaches was used to extract tannins and phenolic compounds from pomegranate peel. The experimental design consisted of four independent variables: microwave power (100–300 W), extraction time (10–40 min), temperature (35–50 °C), and food-to-solvent ratio (0.25–0.5 g/10 mL). The evaluated response variables were total phenolic (mg GAE/g), total tannin (mg CE/g), and antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging activity). Thirty experiments were conducted using the microwave extraction system. Two machine learning models, LSBoost with Random Forest (LSBoost/RF) and LSBoost with K-Nearest Neighbors Neural Network (LSBoost/KNN-NN), were developed and compared for predicting extraction outcomes. The LSBoost/RF model demonstrated superior performance, achieving correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9998, 0.9018, and 0.9269 for total phenolic, total tannin, and DPPH %, respectively. Feature importance analysis revealed microwave power as the most influential parameter, particularly for tannin content and antioxidant potency. The findings indicate that the combination of microwave-assisted extraction with machine learning provides an effective and accurate approach for the extraction and prediction of phenolic and tannin compounds in natural sources.
format Article
id doaj-art-f4e2b0caf92e4b82ac699a84aaadd7a4
institution Kabale University
issn 2045-2322
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Scientific Reports
spelling doaj-art-f4e2b0caf92e4b82ac699a84aaadd7a42025-08-20T03:26:42ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-06-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-04798-4Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peelFatemeh Mobasheri0Mostafa Khajeh1Mansour Ghaffari-Moghaddam2Jamshid Piri3Mousa Bohlooli4Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of ZabolDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of ZabolDepartment of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, University of ZabolAdvanced Materials & Manufacturing Laboratory, University of ZabolDepartment of Cell & Molecular Sciences, Kharazmi UniversityAbstract The peel of pomegranate (Punica granatum) is rich in bioactive compounds, specifically phenolic compounds and tannin compounds. However, there is still a lot of difficulty dealing with the extraction of these substances due to the limitations of traditional methods. Microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) has shown promise, but optimizing it for maximum efficiency and yield remains a challenge. In this work, a microwave-assisted extraction improved using machine learning approaches was used to extract tannins and phenolic compounds from pomegranate peel. The experimental design consisted of four independent variables: microwave power (100–300 W), extraction time (10–40 min), temperature (35–50 °C), and food-to-solvent ratio (0.25–0.5 g/10 mL). The evaluated response variables were total phenolic (mg GAE/g), total tannin (mg CE/g), and antioxidant activity (DPPH scavenging activity). Thirty experiments were conducted using the microwave extraction system. Two machine learning models, LSBoost with Random Forest (LSBoost/RF) and LSBoost with K-Nearest Neighbors Neural Network (LSBoost/KNN-NN), were developed and compared for predicting extraction outcomes. The LSBoost/RF model demonstrated superior performance, achieving correlation coefficients (R²) of 0.9998, 0.9018, and 0.9269 for total phenolic, total tannin, and DPPH %, respectively. Feature importance analysis revealed microwave power as the most influential parameter, particularly for tannin content and antioxidant potency. The findings indicate that the combination of microwave-assisted extraction with machine learning provides an effective and accurate approach for the extraction and prediction of phenolic and tannin compounds in natural sources.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04798-4Microwave-assisted extractionPhenolic compoundsTanninsMachine learningAntioxidant activity
spellingShingle Fatemeh Mobasheri
Mostafa Khajeh
Mansour Ghaffari-Moghaddam
Jamshid Piri
Mousa Bohlooli
Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
Scientific Reports
Microwave-assisted extraction
Phenolic compounds
Tannins
Machine learning
Antioxidant activity
title Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
title_full Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
title_fullStr Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
title_full_unstemmed Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
title_short Machine learning optimization of microwave-assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
title_sort machine learning optimization of microwave assisted extraction of phenolics and tannins from pomegranate peel
topic Microwave-assisted extraction
Phenolic compounds
Tannins
Machine learning
Antioxidant activity
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-04798-4
work_keys_str_mv AT fatemehmobasheri machinelearningoptimizationofmicrowaveassistedextractionofphenolicsandtanninsfrompomegranatepeel
AT mostafakhajeh machinelearningoptimizationofmicrowaveassistedextractionofphenolicsandtanninsfrompomegranatepeel
AT mansourghaffarimoghaddam machinelearningoptimizationofmicrowaveassistedextractionofphenolicsandtanninsfrompomegranatepeel
AT jamshidpiri machinelearningoptimizationofmicrowaveassistedextractionofphenolicsandtanninsfrompomegranatepeel
AT mousabohlooli machinelearningoptimizationofmicrowaveassistedextractionofphenolicsandtanninsfrompomegranatepeel