Effects of high-intensity ultrasound process parameters on the phenolic compounds recovery from araticum peel

•Effect of ultrasonic power (160–640 W) and process time (0.5–5.0 min) on phenolics recovery was evaluated.•Ultrasonic process intensification significantly improved the phenolics recovery.•142 phytochemical compounds were tentatively identified with HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. In this work, we investigated the effects of the nominal ultrasonic power (160–640 W) and process time (0.5–5.0 min) on the phenolic compounds recovery and antioxidant activity from araticum peel. The individual and synergistic effects of the process variables on the phenolic recovery were estimated using a full factorial experimental design. Operating at high nominal ultrasonic powers was possible to obtain high phenolic yields and antioxidant activities at short process times (≤5 min). The HPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS analysis revealed that the araticum peel sample possessed 142 phytochemicals, 123 of which had not been reported in the literature for this raw material yet. The most abundant phenolic compounds recovered were epicatechin, rutin, chlorogenic acid, catechin and ferulic acid. Thus, high-intensity ultrasound technology proved to be a simple, efficient, fast and low environmental impact method for obtaining phenolic compounds from araticum peel. In addition, araticum peel showed to be a promising source bioactive natural phenolics for further applications in the food, nutraceutical, cosmetic and pharmaceutical industries.