Enhancing phenolic extractability and antioxidant activity in dandelion leaves and roots through instant controlled pressure drop pretreatment.

The growing interest in sustainable sources of bioactive compounds has led to the exploration of underutilized edible plants such as Taraxacum officinale (Dandelion). In this study, Instant Controlled Pressure Drop (DIC) was investigated as a pretreatment to enhance the extractability of antioxidant compounds from dandelion leaves and roots, processed and analyzed separately, considering their distinct biochemical composition and potential applications. DIC treatments were applied at various steam pressures (0.1-0.4 MPa), times (5-90 s), and cycles (5), and a response surface methodology was used to optimize extraction conditions. Most favorable DIC pretreatment conditions (0.25 MPa, 20 s) resulted in a 265% increase in Total Phenolic Content (TPC) and a significant improvement in antioxidant activity (up to 44% in the DPPH assay). Multicycle DIC treatments enhanced compound availability in root tissues (0.4 MPa, 20 s, 5 cycles), resulting in an almost threefold increase in TPC. These results demonstrate the potential of DIC pretreatment as a green and efficient approach for improving phenolic extractability from wild edible plants such as dandelion, supporting their valorization as functional food ingredients.