MAKASSAR, Indonesia May 31 2026 /PostharvestMetabo-Engineering/-Every year, millions of tons of apples are processed intojuice, cider, and other food products around the world. However, many people donot realize that a large portion of the fruit ends up as waste afterprocessing. This leftover material, known as apple pomace, consists of applepeel, seeds, and pulp residue. For decades, pomace was considered an industrialbyproduct with limited value. Today, scientists are discovering that this“waste” may actually contain important bioactive compounds with promisinghealth benefits.
According to the scientific article “ApplePomace as a Potential Source of Oxidative Stress-Protecting Dihydrochalcones”published in the journal Antioxidants by MDPI on 25September 2024, apple pomace contains significant amounts ofdihydrochalcones such as phloridzin and phloretin, compounds associated withprotection against oxidative stress. The study explored the distribution ofthese compounds in different apple tissues and processing products, includingpeel, flesh, seeds, juice, and pomace, while also examining their antioxidantactivity and phenolic content.
The researchers found that around 25–30% ofapples remain as pomace after juice production. Surprisingly, large amounts ofvaluable compounds are still trapped inside this byproduct. One of the mostimportant compounds identified was phloridzin, a natural dihydrochalconecommonly found in apples. Scientists have long been interested in phloridzinbecause of its potential anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antioxidantproperties.
Interestingly, the study showed that differentparts of the apple contain very different levels of these compounds. Appleseeds contained much higher concentrations of phloridzin than the flesh orpeel. However, the peel showed the strongest antioxidant activity overallbecause it contains many other protective phenolic compounds. Researchers alsodiscovered that although much of the antioxidant activity moved into the juiceduring processing, considerable amounts of phloridzin still remained in the pomace.
This finding is important because apple pomace isoften discarded or used only as low-value animal feed. With modern extractiontechnologies, pomace could become a valuable raw material for producing naturalantioxidants, food additives, cosmetic ingredients, or even pharmaceuticalcompounds. Instead of treating pomace as waste, industries could transform itinto a sustainable source of high-value bioactive ingredients.
The study also highlighted that antioxidantactivity is influenced not only by phloridzin itself but also by other phenoliccompounds naturally present in apples. Scientists found that purifiedphloridzin alone did not show extremely strong antioxidant activity compared tophloretin. This suggests that the health benefits of apples may result from thecombined action of many natural compounds rather than a single substance alone.
Another interesting discovery involved applecultivars. Different apple varieties showed significant differences inphloridzin content and antioxidant capacity. Some cultivars, such as RoterBoskoop and Goldparmäne, contained especially high concentrations of beneficialcompounds. This information may help breeders and food industries select applevarieties with greater functional value in the future.
This research strongly relates to SDG 12:Responsible Consumption and Production. By utilizing apple pomace as asource of valuable bioactive compounds, the food industry can reduceagricultural waste while creating more sustainable production systems.Converting food byproducts into functional ingredients also supports thecircular economy, where waste materials are reused instead of discarded.
In the future, apple pomace may no longer beviewed as industrial waste but as a hidden treasure rich in health-promotingcompounds. Through scientific innovation and sustainable processing, thissimple byproduct could contribute to healthier foods, reduced environmentalwaste, and a more sustainable food industry worldwide.
Reference:
DOI:Â https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox13101159 Â Â
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