Chemical composition, antioxidant activity, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect of Croton matourensis Aubl. Leaves extracts obtained by supercritical CO2

Abstract

Croton matourensis leaves extract was studied for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects after experimental stroke. The study investigated the extracts obtained with supercritical CO2 (SC−CO2) under different operational conditions of temperature (40 and 50 °C) and pressure (100−400 bar), assessing their global yield isotherms, chemical composition and antioxidant activity, in comparison to extracts obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and n-hexane (HE). The highest yields were obtained with SC−CO2 at 50 °C and 400 bar (5.60 ± 0.06 %) and in the HE (5.73 ± 0.26 %). The major compound found in HD and HE was linalool (35.26 and 69.98 %, respectively), whereas in SC−CO2 extraction was larixol (24.88–50.57 %). The extracts showed high total phenolic contents, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity with maximum percent inhibition of DPPH radical of 83.26 ± 0.58 %. The treatment suggests a potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect, showing reduction in the injury of the animals treated with the SC−CO2 extract.