Comprehensive comparison of a new technology with traditional methods for extracting Ougan (Citrus reticulata cv. Suavissima) seed oils: Physicochemical properties, fatty acids, functional components, and antioxidant activities

Abstract

Citrus seed waste material provides a new solution for addressing the shortage of edible oils in China. supercritical CO2 fluid extraction (SFE), sub-critical butane fluid extraction (SCE), cold press (CP), soxhlet extraction (SXE), and ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) were preformed to obtain Ougan (Citrus reticulata cv. Suavissima) seed oil. Ougan seed oils were tested for physicochemical properties, fatty acid composition, limonoids, polyphenols, total carotenoids, tocopherols, and in vitro antioxidant activities. The results indicated that SCE Ougan seed oil has the most abundant fatty acid composition, and higher in vitro antioxidant capacity, which is mainly positively related to the polyphenol, carotenoid and tocopherol contents. Therefore, SCE may be the optimum procedure for extracting a high content of bioactive substances from Ougan seed oils, providing a theoretical foundation for developing high-quality and nutritional value Ougan seed oils.