MECHANICALLY FRACTIONATED BLACK CURRANT SEEDS AND SKINS AS A VALUABLE SOURCE OF BIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS

Blackcurrant seeds and skins are residual by-products of berry processing, often overlooked and discarded as waste in the industry. However, recent studies over the past decade have highlighted their potential as a rich source of bioactive compounds. Chemical composition analysis using standard methodologies revealed that seeds are particularly high in fats and proteins, while skins contain greater amounts of minerals and carbohydrates. Notably, a significant portion of the carbohydrates in skins is dietary fiber, averaging approximately 50 g per 100 g, with a lower content in seeds. Supercritical CO₂ extraction yielded a lipophilic extract from seeds with a 16% yield, whereas the yield from skins was considerably lower. The predominant fatty acids in the extracts were identified as unsaturated linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acids. Furthermore, the extract were found to be a rich source of bioactive compounds, including α-tocopherol and β-sitosterol. These findings underscore the potential of blackcurrant seeds and skins as valuable ingredients for sustainable superfood blends or functional food products. This project has received funding from the KTU, grant No INP2025/2.