Green solvents as sustainable tools for the integral valorization of peach palm (Bactris gasipaes): Bioactive composition, antioxidant potential, simulation of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion, and microbiological inhibition

The peach palm ( Bactris gasipaes ) is an Amazonian species with high nutritional and functional potential, whose fractions (peel, pulp, and seeds) remain underexplored in terms of full utilization. This study investigated the bioactive composition of these fractions and assessed the application of emerging green solvents, including deep eutectic solvents and supramolecular solvents, for the extraction of bioactive compounds, as well as their biological activities and simulated in vitro digestion. The results revealed distinct profiles of phenolic compounds, carotenoids, and flavonoids among the fractions. Extraction using supramolecular solvents demonstrated superior efficiency and selectivity, particularly for carotenoids from the peel (β-carotene: 67.2 and lycopene: 169.95 mg 100 g −1 ). The obtained extracts exhibited strong antioxidant activity in the peel, with supramolecular solvents (ABTS: 91.84%, DPPH: 80.04%), and in the β-carotene/linoleic acid assay for both peel and pulp (82.77% and 71.93%, respectively). In addition, high trigonelline levels were observed in the peel and pulp (4511.41 and 4800.95 μg g −1 ) with the choline chloride: lactic acid solvent. In biological assays, supramolecular solvents stood out in lipid peroxidation inhibition analysis with peel (63.92%) and pulp (58.04%), while α-amylase inhibition was most relevant in pulp with water (62.35%), choline chloride: lactic acid (61.72%) and choline chloride: acetic acid (59.62%) solvents. Antimicrobial effects were also observed in deep eutectic solvents and supramolecular solvents against the bacteria S. aureus, E. coli, L. monocytogenes, S. enterica , as well as the fungi A. flavus, A. niger , and A. ochraceus . In vitro digestion assays revealed that the bioaccessibility of compounds varied among fractions, with seeds showing greater stability of ferulic acid during the intestinal phase, suggesting different release possibilities and potential application in functional formulations with antioxidant effects. Overall, the findings highlight that the valorization of peach palm using green solvents represents an efficient approach for obtaining multifunctional extracts with potential for future applications, while emphasizing the need for further studies to assess toxicological safety, formulation stability, and large-scale feasibility. Furthermore, this approach contributes to the integral use of Amazonian resources.