Green extraction of bioactive compounds from Cumaru seeds using supercritical CO₂: Yield and functionality

Area of Science:

• Green Chemistry and Sustainable Extraction Technologies
• Phytochemistry and Natural Product Analysis
• Food Science and Technology

Background:

• Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata) seeds are a rich source of bioactive compounds.
• Conventional extraction methods like Soxhlet may be less efficient and environmentally impactful.
• Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) offers a greener alternative for extracting valuable compounds.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the influence of operational conditions on SFE efficiency for cumaru seeds.
• To compare SFE with conventional Soxhlet extraction in terms of yield and compound recovery.
• To assess the chemical composition and bioactive compound recovery from cumaru seed extracts.

Main Methods:

• Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 under varying pressures and temperatures.
• Conventional Soxhlet extraction for comparative analysis.
• Analysis of global yield, fatty acid profiles, glyceride classes, and bioactive compounds (coumarin, tocopherols, tocotrienols).

Main Results:

• SFE under high CO2 density (35 MPa; 40 °C) maximized lipophilic and antioxidant compound recovery (e.g., total tocol content, TRC, ORAC-L).
• Extracts from optimized SFE showed high lipid content (~98%), rich in oleic and linoleic acids, with low acidity.
• Soxhlet extraction yielded lower coumarin and tocol content compared to SFE; highest coumarin recovery was at 25 MPa and 50 °C.

Conclusions:

• SFE is a highly efficient and selective method for extracting high-value bioactive compounds from cumaru seeds.
• Optimized SFE conditions can significantly enhance the recovery of antioxidants and beneficial fatty acids.
• SFE presents a promising green alternative to conventional extraction techniques for natural product recovery.