Supercritical CO$_2$ extraction vs. hexane extraction and cold pressing : comparative analysis of seed oils from six plant species

Schoss, Katja (author), Kočevar Glavač, Nina (author)

Supercritical fluid extraction using carbon dioxide (SFE-CO$_2$) brings a convincing advance in the production of plant oils used in cosmetics, in fortified foods and dietary supplements, and in pharmaceuticals and medicine. The SFE-CO$_2$-extracted, hexane-extracted, and cold-pressed plant oils of pumpkin (Cucurbita pepo L.), flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), linden (Tilia sp.), poppy (Papaver somniferum L.), apricot (Prunus armeniaca L.), and marigold (Calendula officinalis L.) seeds were investigated in terms of oil yield, fatty acid composition, unsaponifiable matter yield and composition, and the antioxidant activity of unsaponifiable matter. SFE-CO$_2$ proved to be the preferred extraction method for four out of six plant materials, especially for seeds with lower oil content. However, for seeds with higher oil content, such as apricots, cold pressing is a viable alternative. A comparison of fatty acid composition did not reveal significant differences between extraction techniques. SFE-CO$_2$ extraction improved the total phytosterol content of oils, especially pumpkin seed oil. A high variability in the antioxidant potential of the unsaponifiable matter studied was determined, with pumpkin seed oil showing the highest antioxidant activity. A correlation analysis was performed between unsaponifiable composition and antioxidant activity, and showed statistically significant correlations with squalene, cycloartenol, and an unidentified compound. This is the first comparison of the phytosterol compositions of linseed, apricot, linden, and marigold. Through continued optimization, SFE-CO$_2$ has the potential to revolutionize the production of plant oils and provide a sustainable and efficient alternative.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cold pressing, CO$_2$ extraction, solvent extraction, plant seed oils, unsaponifiable matter
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: FFA - Faculty of Pharmacy
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: 18 str.
• Numbering: Vol. 13, iss. 23, art. 3409
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-165396
• UDC: 66.061.3:664.34
• ISSN on article: 2223-7747
• DOI: 10.3390/plants13233409
• COBISS.SI-ID: 217733635
• Publication date in RUL: 05.12.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Plants
• Publisher: MDPI
• ISSN: 2223-7747
• COBISS.SI-ID: 523345433

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: hladno stiskanje, ekstrakcija CO$_2$, ekstrakcija s topilom, olja rastlinskih semen, neumiljive snovi, ekstrakcija

Projects

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P1-0208
• Name: Farmacevtska kemija: načrtovanje, sinteza in vrednotenje učinkovin

• Funder: ARIS - Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency
• Project number: P4-0127
• Name: Farmacevtska biotehnologija: znanost za zdravje