Extraction of Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) Seed Oil Using Subcritical Butane: Characterization and Process Optimization.

Ling-Biao Gu,Hua-Min Liu,Xiao-Ning Liu,Guang-Yong Qin,Hui-Li Pang

doi:10.3390/molecules22020228

Ling-Biao Gu, Hua-Min Liu + Show 3 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules22020228

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Abstract

In this study, the subcritical butane extraction process of fenugreek seed oil was optimized using response surface methodology with a Box-Behnken design. The optimum conditions for extracted oil from fenugreek seed was as follows: extraction temperature of 43.24 °C, extraction time of 32.80 min, and particle size of 0.26 mm. No significant differences were found between the experimental and predicted values. The physical and chemical properties of the oil showed that the oil could be used as edible oil. Fatty acid composition of oils obtained by subcritical butane under the optimum conditions and by accelerated solvent extraction showed negligible difference. The oils were rich in linoleic acid (42.71%–42.80%), linolenic acid (26.03%–26.15%), and oleic acid (14.24%–14.40%). The results revealed that the proposed method was feasible, and this essay shows the way to exploit fenugreek seeds by subcritical butane extraction under the scope of edible oils.

Highlights

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) is a self-pollinating annual herbaceous aromatic leguminous crop, known as bird’s foot, Greek hayseed, and methi [1]
The density of the butane reduced with the increasing temperature and resulted in the decrease of the oil solubility; the pressure of the oil dissolved in subcritical butane increased simultaneously with the increased temperature, which improved the solubility of oil [26]
The optimization of the subcritical butane extraction (SBE) of oil from fenugreek seed was performed with a statistical method based on the Response surface methodology (RSM) in order to identify and quantify the variables which would maximize the fenugreek seed oil yield

Summary

Introduction

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graceum L.) is a self-pollinating annual herbaceous aromatic leguminous crop, known as bird’s foot, Greek hayseed, and methi [1]. It is widely cultivated in northern Africa, Europe, west and south Asia, north America, Argentina, and Australia [2]. Fenugreek is considered the oldest known medicinal plant in human history [3]. It was used for the treatment of diabetes and has been utilized as a galactogogue. Fenugreek seed oil (mainly of unsaturated acids, namely linoleic, linolenic, and oleic acid) [7], is used in flavoring many canned foods and syrups and as an ingredient in soma perfumes [6]

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