Yield vs. functionality: Enzyme-assisted extraction of mango peel reduces antioxidant dietary fiber quality

• Pectinex treatment resulted in greater material solubilization from mango peels • Viscozyme treatment yielded the highest quantity of ethanol precipitable matter (EPM) • Samples without enzyme treatment had the highest concentration of phenolic compounds in EPM • The production of propionic acid in EPM parallels the phenolic concentration This study explores enzymatic-assisted extraction (EAE) of fibers from mango peels and their prebiotic potential. Mango peels were treated with Pectinex®, Pectinex Smash XXL®, and Viscozyme® at various temperatures (30–50 °C) and times (2–6 h). Ethanolic precipitable matter (EPM) was used to estimate soluble fiber yield. Viscozyme® at 40 °C for 2 h produced the highest EPM (∼15 g/100 g dry matter). However, control samples (30 °C, 2 h) preserved the most phenolic compounds (250 mg GAE/g EPM) and antioxidant activity in the EPM. In vitro fermentation of EPM showed that all fibers induced the production of SCFA, with the phenolic-richer fibers promoting a greater propionic acid production. These findings indicate that EAE is a valuable strategy to extract fibers from mango peels, but that enzymatic conditions must be fine-tuned to preserve higher concentration of phenolic compounds. The interaction between phenolics and fiber, or antioxidant dietary fiber, appears pivotal in modulating gut microbiota functionality.