Pomegranate Flower Extract—The Health-Promoting Properties Optimized by Application of the Box–Behnken Design

Abstract

Herbal raw materials with antidiabetic activity can be a valuable support to therapy. An optimized extraction process allows for the best possible health-promoting effect. Box–Behnken design was employed to optimize the content of methanol used in the extraction mixture, its time, and temperature. The aim of this study was to enhance the efficiency of the pomegranate flowers extraction process in order to obtain extracts with the highest enzyme inhibition power (α-amylase and α-glucosidase), which is important for the antidiabetic effect and the highest antioxidant activity (DPPH assay). In the Box–Behnken design model, the content of pelargonidin-3,5-glucoside–anthocyanin compound that is associated with antidiabetic activity was also optimized as a variable associated with the action profile of pomegranate flower extracts. The process optimization carried out in this study provides a basis for further research using the pomegranate flower extract with the most potent desired properties, essential for supporting diabetes treatment based on pomegranate flowers.