The peel of Lanzones (Lansium domesticum) is an underutilized waste generated from the consumption of Lanzones fruits in the Philippines, yet it holds untapped potential for manufacturing other products rather than being discarded. Pectin was extracted from Lanzones peels using four different extraction conditions involving acid hydrolysis: (2 pH, 75℃), (2 pH, 95℃), (3 pH, 75°C), and (3 pH, 95℃). After the completion of all the extraction procedures, the pectin yield was then calculated, resulting in 18.15%, 10.42%, 3.31%, and 4.72%, respectively. After the extraction, the pectin was stored together and used to evaluate and differentiate its properties, utilizing titration. The equivalent weight averaged 698.41 g/mol, and anhydroUronic acid content averaged 37.55%. Based on the degree of esterification (32.83%) and Methoxyl content (2.15%), the pectin was classified as low Methoxyl pectin, and the moisture content averaged 10.23%, within IPPA standards. The extraction involving different conditions displayed a significant difference in the amount of pectin yielded, with 2 pH and 75°C being the highest, averaging 18.15%. The pectin extracted from Lanzones (Lansium domesticum) demonstrated quality attributes consistent with industry standards, except for the measured Anhydrouronic acid content, which fell below the conventional threshold of 65% required for pectin utilization.
The Lanzones (Lansium domesticum) fruit is oval, ovoid-oblong, or nearly round, measuring 2.5-5 cm in diameter. This skin is characterized by its light greyish-yellow to pale brownish or pink color and a velvety texture. It can be leathery, thin, or thick, and is notable for containing milky latex (Orwa et al., 2009). It is primarily found in Southeast Asian countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and has a rich history of traditional medicinal uses. It has been employed to treat various conditions, including eye inflammation, ulcers, diarrhea, fever, and more. Additionally, it serves as a mosquito repellent, skin moisturizer, and whitening agent (Abdallah, Mohamed, & Ibrahim, 2022).
Highlighting its characteristics and complementing the existing traditional medicinal uses, this study introduced a new source of pectin from Lansium domesticum peels and diversified the raw materials for pectin production in providing broader choices for manufacturers and lessening supply chain vulnerabilities while complementing other pectin research involving local ingredients such as mango peels, and banana peels, as conducted by Gragasin et al. (2012) and Israel et al. (2015) respectively. Not only that but introducing new material may lessen Lanzones’ peel waste and prompt future researchers to study other overlooked sources for extracting pectin or other related products.
