Lower energy consumption, efficient conversion of raw materials into products, fewer by-products, the possibility of integration into circular economy and improved quality and safety of the end products are the most important requirements in the development of new technologies. The extraction technologies with subcritical water and supercritical carbon dioxide generally meet all these criteria after optimization of the extraction process.
In dissertation, we have investigated their applicability for the extraction of bioactive compounds from various plant sources. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficiency and selectivity of these methods in the extraction of phenols, cannabinoids, plant oils and volatile compounds from silver fir (Abies alba), industrial hemp (Cannabis sativa) and seeds and herbs of various plants. The results showed that subcritical water extraction at 100 °C was the best method for extracting phenols from silver fir, as the extracts had a high phenolic content and high antioxidant activity. Subcritical water extraction also proved to be effective in the extraction of phenols and antioxidants from industrial hemp, but was not optimal for the extraction of cannabinoids, for which high-pressure ethanol extraction proved to be the best method. In the extraction of plant oils, supercritical carbon dioxide extraction proved to be highly efficient as it yielded the highest oil content from seeds with low oil content and increased the content of bioactive compounds, such as unsaponifiables. In addition, analyses of antimicrobial properties showed that some plant extracts obtained by supercritical carbon dioxide extraction rich in volatile compounds, especially chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) and sandy everlasting (Helichrysum arenarium) extracts, exhibited strong antifungal activity, particularly against Botrytis cinerea, while St. John’s wort extract showed strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus.
The dissertation confirms the great potential of both methods for industrial use due to their environmental friendliness, high efficiency and potential for further optimization. Both methods have proven to be effective in obtaining plant extracts with enhanced bioactivity, which is essential for their application in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries.
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