Microwave-ultrasound hybrid technology assisted extraction of pigments with antioxidant potential from red corn

Current trends in the use of new pigments of natural origin have led to the investigation of novel technologies for obtaining them. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the extraction process by microwave (MAE) and ultrasound (UAE) assisted techniques and a treatment using simultaneously both techniques (hybrid way) (HM-UE) of pigments from corn with different shades of red (highly pigmented corn = RA, moderately pigmented corn = RM and poorly pigmented corn = RB), and to determine the color, content of hydrolyzable polyphenols, condensed tannins, and antioxidant potential by DPPH, ABTS and FRAP tests. Finally, the pigments obtained by HM-UE underwent thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry (FTIR) and HPLC-MS. Results indicated that hybrid-assisted extraction (HM-UE) yields higher extraction yields (p