Extraction and isolation of pectin rich in homogalacturonan domains from two cultivars of hawthorn berry (Crataegus pinnatifida)

Abstract Hawthorn berries present high pectin content with good ability to form and stabilize oil-in-water emulsions. However, successful applications are determinant of high yield and purity as well as good surfactant properties based on their molecular structure. In this work, pectins from one of the most common Crataegus pinnatifida cultivars (Dajinxing, DA), and from a less known cultivar gaining popularity (Mianqiu, MI), were extracted and isolated. They were comparatively investigated with two commercial pectins from citrus peel [> 67.9% degree of methyl-esterification (DM) and > 78% galacturonic acid (GalA)] and analyzed for their yield, molecular weight (HPSEC-MALS-RI), monomer composition and glycosyl linkage analysis (GC-MS), DM (titration, FTIR and 1H-NMR), and emulsifying performance. MI showed a 2-fold greater pectin yield (in terms of GalA) than DA (61.2% vs. 38.3%). Thus, hot acid extraction had to be followed by an enzymatic step to remove starch molecules and obtain purified DA and MI pectins (>86% GalA), which also resulted in pectin demethoxylation (DM