IMPROVEMENT OF THE TECHNOLOGY FOR PRODUCING CAMEL THORN EXTRACT CONCENTRATE
Annotatsiya
The study aimed to improve the technology for obtaining a concentrate rich in bioactive compounds from the aerial parts of camel thorn (Alhagi) and to assess its applicability in functional beverage production. The methods included raw material comminution, ultrasonic extraction with 40% aqueous ethanol, rotary vacuum evaporation, high-performance liquid chromatography, and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Extraction was performed at a hydromodule ratio of 1:40 and a temperature of 40°C, which reduced the thermal degradation of bioactive components and shortened the processing time. The resulting concentrate contained 50% dry matter and had a pH of 3.4. The residual ethanol content was 0.003%, substantially below the permissible safety threshold. HPLC analysis confirmed high levels of dihydroquercetin, rutin, vitamin B9, and asparagine. These findings indicate that camel thorn concentrate is a promising natural ingredient for enriching functional products and improving their biological value.