Pressurized Liquid Extraction Research Articles

Antioxidant Valorization of PLE Extracts from Macroalgae (Cladophora glomerata): In Vitro Assessment of Nanoemulsions Against Oxidative Stress

Driven by a growing global interest in natural products, macroalgae have emerged as a prime source for nutraceuticals and pharmaceutical applications. In the current research, the effect of oven-drying (OD) and freeze-drying (FD), as well as the pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) conditions, were investigated in relation to the polyphenols, flavonoids, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and tocochromanols levels in Cladophora glomerata extracts. The ethanol–water extracts (1:1) obtained with PLE-150 °C from macroalgae oven-dried (OD)-80 °C displayed the highest total polyphenol content (TPC) and total flavonoid contents (TFCs), reaching 29.62 mg GAE/g and 5.92 mg QE/g. Aqueous extracts using PLE-200 °C were also an excellent environmentally friendly option for TPC and TFC isolation, which were the main factors accounting for the ABTS, DPPH, and FRAP antioxidant activity of the extracts. The remarkable effects of drying conditions positively affect the carotenoids, chlorophyll α-tocopherol, and α-tocotrienol levels from extracts showing 1.3–6 times higher amounts in extracts of Cladophora glomerata OD at 80 °C compared with other research approaches. Nanotechnology approaches allowed the formulation of antioxidant-loaded nanoemulsions from Cladophora glomerata extracts, providing stability and a great internalization rate that ameliorates to 85% the ROS levels, attenuating the oxidative stress induced by H2O2 in J774.1 macrophage cell line.

Trends in extraction techniques for the determination of organic micropollutants in liver tissues of vertebrates.

Determining organic micropollutants in liver samples of apex species is of foremost importance for biomonitoring studies, as it can provide evidence of environmental pollution and exposure of living organisms to chemicals. This review aims to provide a 4-year overview and summarize the trends in the extraction methodologies to determine both polar and non-polar organic micropollutants in liver samples from organisms of higher trophic levels. The dominant extraction techniques including ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), Soxhlet, and QuEChERS, as well as additional steps and/or modifications applied in the reviewed studies, are presented and critically discussed. The latest trends in these methods as well as a comparison between them considering elapsed time, robustness, cost, and environmental fingerprint are also provided.

A novel corrosion inhibitor for copper in sulfuric acid media: Complexation of iodide ions with Benincasa Hispida leaf extract

In the context of green and low-carbon development, the rapid development of industry brings the problem of metal corrosion costs increase, metal corrosion protection methods are of great concern. Extracts from Benincasa hispida leaves (BHLE), which were obtained through pressurised liquid extraction, were employed as a inhibitor for copper corrosion in 0.5 M H2SO4. Their composition and anti-corrosion properties were subsequently analyzed and evaluated. The electrochemical analysis results indicated that BHLE functions as a cathodic-type corrosion inhibitor. The anti-corrosion performance intensifies with the increase in concentration but diminishes gradually as the temperature rises, when the concentration of BHLE is 400 mg/L, the corrosion inhibition efficiency can reach 91.82 %, when the concentration of added potassium iodide reaches 16 mg/L the slow-release efficiency of the compounded corrosion inhibitor reaches 96.92 %. The addition of I− strengthens the inhibition efficiency through the adsorption form dominated by competitive adsorption. The adsorption of BHLE onto the surface of copper follows the Langmuir monolayer adsorption model.

Araçaúna (Psidium myrtoides) Flour: Sequential Extraction with Supercritical Carbon Dioxide and Pressurized Fluids

Araçaúna (Psidium myrtoides) is a native fruit from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. It was studied for the proximate composition of its flour and sequential extraction using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) in the first stage with CO2 and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) with ethanol and water in the second and third stages, respectively, at 50°C and 60°C. The proximate analysis revealed essential information about the flour regarding the content of protein, carbohydrates, lipid, ash and moisture. The sequential extraction at 60°C resulted in high yields (42.22%). The first stage using SFE captured the volatile fraction, notably 1,4-diethylbenzene, which corresponds to 53.70% of the total volatile compounds identified in the araçaúna. Comparing the second and third stages, the third stage with water at 50°C produced the highest levels of phenolic compounds (33.06±2.26mg GAE/g extract), total monomeric anthocyanins (3.91±2.10mg C3G/g extract), antioxidant activity by ORAC (415.13±13.66 µmol TE/g extract) and FRAP (747.16±18.49 µmol TE/g extract), and cyanidin-3-glucoside as the predominant compound (4.83% w/w).

Method Development and Comprehensive Study of Matrix Effects for the Determination of Trace Organic Contaminants in Lake Sediments

The presence of trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), such as pharmaceuticals, personal care products, additives, and polar pesticides in sediments of rivers and lakes highly impacted by anthropogenic activities makes sediments a secondary source of contamination for aquatic ecosystems. Considering this, a method for analyzing 44 TrOCs of diverse nature (including five transformation products, 13 pharmaceuticals, five personal care products, 14 pesticides, and seven additives) was developed and validated. It is based on extraction by pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), followed by purification and pre-concentration by solid phase extraction (SPE) and quantification by liquid chromatography coupled to a triple quadrupole mass spectrometer (LC-QqQMS). The method was optimized according to dispersant type, temperature, and extraction solvent. The influence of organic matter in sediments on quantitative analysis was also investigated in detail. Matrix effects were highly and significantly correlated (r=-0.9146, p < 0.0001) with retention time. Using internal standards showed the best results for effectively correcting matrix effects without affecting method sensitivity. The method was then validated according to key figures of merit: linearity (R2 > 0.990), extraction recoveries (> 60% for 34 compounds), trueness (bias % < 15%), precision (relative standard deviation < 20%) and matrix effects (between -13.3% and 17.8%). This method can be applied for routine analysis of TrOCs in different sediment matrices. The method was applied to ten lake sediment samples collected in Québec, Canada. Results demonstrated the presence of 17 compounds in at least one lake at concentrations between 0.07 to 1531 ng g-1. The reported concentrations provide a first picture of the occurrence of chemical stressors in sediments of small lake highly anthropized ecosystems in Eastern Canada.

Pressurized liquid extraction of sulfite for quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis.

Sulfite is an additive used in shrimp processing to prevent discoloration. However, sulfite can cause health issues for sensitive consumers, making its monitoring necessary. Determining sulfite concentrations is complex because the Monier-Williams reference method is laborious and has low analytical throughput. Additionally, new techniques are needed to stabilize sulfite during the extraction process because this analyte undergoes rapid oxidation. A new method involving extraction and derivatization of sulfite with formaldehyde through automated pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), followed by quantitation by capillary zone electrophoresis with diode-array detector in indirect mode, was developed and optimized using multivariate planning. The PLE procedure was compared to another solid-liquid extraction method. The new method successfully stabilized and extracted sulfite from shrimp in few steps with adequate precision (CV<3.8%), producing extracts that were stable for 10 days. Recovery was satisfactory (97%-99%), and the limits of detection (4.6mgkg-1) and quantitation (15.4mgkg-1) were suitable for the intended purpose.

A Comprehensive Review of Plant-Based Cosmetic Oils (Virgin Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Argan Oil, and Jojoba Oil): Chemical and Biological Properties and Their Cosmeceutical Applications.

Plant-based oils, such as coconut, olive, argan, and jojoba, are abundant in natural emollients and vital fatty acids that hydrate and moisturize the skin. They shield the surface, stop moisture loss, and maintain suppleness of, the skin. They are rich in vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants that nourish the skin. Virgin coconut oil (VCO) is used as a functional food due to its tremendous health benefits, and olive oil is well-known for its cosmetic and culinary applications. Argan oil contains many antioxidants, vital fatty acids, and vitamin E, while jojoba oil is an excellent moisturizer and conditioner. Plant-based oils can be extracted using various techniques including conventional and chemical extraction methods, and each will affect the yield and quality. Traditional methods like mechanical pressing are less efficient, whereas extraction methods such as pressurized liquid and supercritical fluid extraction may give higher yields and better quality. The chemical composition of olive oil primarily consists of saturated fatty acids (SFAs), polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). Argan oil is rich in tocopherols, containing between 60 and 90 mg per 100 g, with only 19 g/100 g of argan oil's fatty acids saturated. Jojoba oil is liquid wax comprising over 98% triglyceride esters, pure waxes, vitamins, and sterols. This review focuses on the chemical and biological properties, production processes, and applications of natural cosmetic oils (virgin coconut oil, olive oil, argan oil, and jojoba oil), emphasizing their usage in skin care and cosmeceutical products.

Pressurized Liquid Extraction of Antioxidant and α-Amylase-Inhibitory Compounds from Red Seaweed Using Water-Ethanol Mixtures.

Red seaweeds from the coastal shores of Ilo (Peru) are a natural source of high-value compounds beneficial to health due to their high antioxidant capacity. Thus, this work evaluated the effect of water-ethanol mixtures (0, 15, and 30%; v/v) at high temperatures (90, 120, and 150 °C) on the polyphenol content, antioxidant capacity, and polyphenols profile of red seaweed (Chondracanthus chamissoi) during a pressurized liquid extraction process, whose parameters were set at 10 atm, with a single cycle of extraction and a volume of 150%. An increase in temperature and ethanol had a positive effect on antioxidant compounds. Thus, the best processing conditions were established at 150 °C and 30% ethanol, allowing for the extraction of a high polyphenol content (2.04 mg GAE/g dw) and antioxidant capacity (IC50: 7.46 mg/mL, ORAC: 148.98 μmol TE/g dw). High ethanol concentrations (30%) effectively recovered phenolic acids, flavonols, and phlorotannins for the polyphenols profile. However, the use of pure water was more effective in recovering flavonols. Interestingly, using pure water as an extraction solvent at high temperatures allowed for a more significant inhibition of the α-amylase enzyme than water-ethanol mixtures under the same conditions. Finally, the results can be utilized for future industrial scaling and the potential utilization of extracts in developing diabetes treatments.

Comprehensive Study of Sustainable Pressurized Liquid Extractions to Obtain Bioavailable Antioxidant Phenolic Compounds from Grape Seed By-Products

Few investigations have been conducted to evaluate pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) technology as a sustainable method for the recovery of phenolic compounds of grape seed by-products. In this study, PLE combined with an experimental design was evaluated for optimizing the sustainable extraction of phenolic compounds from grape seed by-products. The solvent ethanol content (X1, 0–100%), temperature (X2, 20–100 °C) and time (X3, 1–11 min) were studied as independent experimental factors. Yield, TPC, antioxidant activity and phenolic composition were analyzed as optimized dependent variables. Two optimal extraction conditions at different temperatures (20 °C and 100 °C) were found, but thermal degradations at 100 °C allowed for selecting the optimal condition as 75% ethanol, 11 min and 20 °C. The optimal extracts showed high phenolic content (TPC = 350.80 ± 3.97 mg GAE/g extract) and antioxidant activity (ABTS, 9.31 ± 0.33 mmol Trolox/g extract), mainly composed of polymeric and mono-oligomeric flavan-3-ols. The digestion process reduced the TPC and antioxidant activity due to the low bioaccessibility of the flavan-3-ols, mainly as catechin, epicatechin and polymeric proanthocyanidin losses during the digestion process. However, increases in the antioxidant activity of the basolateral side (DDPH, 0.061 ± 0.000 mmol Trolox/g extract) were determined after in vitro transepithelial transport, which is a consequence of bioavailable catechin and epicatechin and reduced amounts of dimer B2, dimer B1, epicatechin gallate and gallic acid. Consequently, PLE combined with hydroalcoholic solvents at a low temperature resulted in a valuable methodology to obtain sustainable extracts from grape seed by-products (contributing to the circular economy), containing bioavailable phenolic compounds, which are able to increase the antioxidant status.

Extraction of Soybean Oil with Pressurized Ethanol: Prospects for a New Processing Approach with an Analysis of the Physical Properties of Crude Oil and Implementation Costs through Scale-Up in an Intermittent Process

New environmentally friendly methods for extracting vegetable oils are in development, with a focus on pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) in an intermittent process. Ethanol, a renewable and generally recognized as safe (GRAS) solvent, is gaining prominence in this process. It is crucial for these methods to maintain the physicochemical characteristics of the extracted oils and be economically viable on a large scale. Using SuperPro Design software v 8.5, a simulation of PLE scaled up to industrial levels was conducted. Measurements of oils extracted with pressurized hexane and ethanol showed minimal density variations, with slightly higher viscosity for ethanol-extracted oil. Accelerated oxidative degradation revealed a longer induction period for hexane-extracted oil, indicating that ethanol-extracted oil degrades more easily. The antioxidant activity of the oil extracted with hexane was lower than that with ethanol. In the differential scanning calorimetry analysis, the oils extracted with hexane and ethanol presented onset melting point temperatures of −43.2 and −36.1 °C, respectively. The economic assessment considered 16 scenarios, showing a return on investment ranging from 9.0 to 133.5% in the first year and payback times from 0.7 to 11.1 years. Scenario 8, involving two 5000 L extractors, ethanol recycling, and an annual production of 3,325,300 L of soybean oil at USD 1.25/L, demonstrated the best return on investment (133.5%) in less than one year. Overall, this study suggests that industrial-scale soybean oil extraction via PLE in an intermittent process can be more cost-effective than conventional methods, making implementation feasible.

New Green Biorefinery Strategies to Valorize Bioactive Fractions from Palmaria palmata.

A biorefinery process was developed to isolate phycobiliproteins, sulfated polysaccharides, and phenolic compounds from Palmaria palmata. The extraction process was carried out in three stages using ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) integrated with different natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs). In general, PLE provided higher phycobiliprotein contents than UAE in the first step of the process. In fact, the hydrolysis product of the PLE-NaDES extracts achieved a higher antioxidant capacity than that of the UAE-NaDES extracts. Particularly, glycerol:glucose (2:1) with 50% water in combination with PLE was the most suitable NaDES to recover the highest phycobiliprotein, protein, and sulfated polysaccharide contents from Palmaria palmata in the first and second steps of the biorefinery process. Finally, a PLE-NaDES using choline chloride:glycerol (1:2) with 60% water as the NaDES was employed for the recovery of antioxidant and neuroprotective phenolic compounds from the residue of the second step, obtaining a higher total phenolic content than employing PLE with ethanol/water (70:30, v/v) as the extraction solvent. Moreover, a forced stability study revealed that the NaDESs provided a protective effect compared to the water extracts against the degradation of phycobiliproteins, preserving their color over time. This study contributes to the recovery of high-value components from an undervalued biomarine source through a sustainable biorefinery process.

Improved and Novel Methods for Investigating Organophosphate Esters in Particulate Matter

A pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) method for the extraction of 31 organophosphate esters (OPEs) and novel organophosphate esters (NOPEs) has been developed. Unlike previously published methods, this method utilizes the high-throughput nature of PLE (as opposed to Soxhlet or sonication methods) without using potentially harmful organic solvents like methylene chloride. Combinations of hexane and acetone and hexane and ethyl acetate at various temperatures were examined. Extracts were concentrated and analyzed via gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The final optimized method utilized 1:1 v/v hexane/ethyl acetate at 100 °C for three static cycles (5 min each) at 80% flush volume and a 100 s N2 purge. This provided average surrogate corrected target analyte percent recoveries in spike and recovery experiments (n = 6) for OPEs and NOPEs of 106 ± 13%, with average surrogate recoveries of 88.6 ± 7.3%. The developed method was further validated using standard reference materials and was then applied to atmospheric particulate matter samples collected in the city of Providence, RI. The dataset reflected ambient concentrations of 16 OPEs and NOPEs (reported in pg m−3) for the first time in the greater Providence metropolitan area, including one of the first reports of NOPEs in atmospheric particulate matter in the U.S.

Sequential high-pressure extraction using green solvents to recover bioactive compounds from sesame cake

Sesame cake was submitted to pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for process optimization. Then, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), followed by optimized PLE were applied to recover the oily fraction and the polar extract, respectively. PLE samples, at optimized condition and from SFE deffated cake, showed high levels of TPC (33.15 and 31.86 mg GAE/g), DPPH (97.64 and 94.38 µmol TE/g), FRAP (46.12 and 46.69 mg TE\\g), flavonoids (2.26 and 2.31mgQE/g extract), yield (13.76 and 16.25 %) and protein (56.52 and 54.08 mg BSA/g), respectively. The oily fraction presented high levels of carotenoids and essential fatty acids, while PLE extracts presented higher concentration of ferulic acid, 4-aminobenzoic acid, and quercetin compared to Soxhlet extract. Total Reduced Sugar (TRS) content suggests sesame cake as good biomass for bioethanol production. The sequential process (SFE + PLE) was efficient to recover two bioactive fractions from sesame cake, contributing to improve the value of this co-product.

Isolation of valuable substances from berry seeds and pomace by the green high-pressure methods, their evaluation and application in cosmetic creams

Berry seeds and pomace generated as a by-product of fruit processing contain valuable nutrients and bioactive compounds; however, nowadays it is inefficiently recycled or even discarded as a waste. Valorisation of such by-products for the development of higher value ingredients would substantially increase the sustainability of the sector. For this purpose, green extraction methods with supercritical CO2 (SFE-CO2) and pressurized liquid (PLE) extraction with hydro-ethanol were consecutively applied to strawberry, blackberry and elderberry seeds and rowanberry pomace for the isolation of lipophilic and higher polarity substances. SFE-CO2 extracts were rich in unsaturated fatty acids (oleic, 10.76 − 23.25 %; linoleic, 39.11 −59.74 %; linolenic, 1.32 − 43.83 %), tocopherols (31 – 637 μg/g), phytosterols (1992 – 3775 μg/g), carotenoids (65.06 – 2147 μg β-carotene/g) and chlorophylls (27.95 – 130.4 μg/g). Anthocyanins (22.7 – 697.6 mg cyanidin-3-O-glucoside equivalents/100 g), flavonoids (2.75 – 7.43 mg quercetin eqv./g), proanthocyanidins (122.2 – 199.4 catechin monohydrate eqv./g), antioxidant and antibacterial properties were evaluated for the PLE extracts. The extracts were tested in cosmetic creams at 2 % concentrations and strawberry seed extracts were selected for the evaluation of cream properties. In general, PLE extract addition had slight effect on antioxidant properties and sun protection factor of creams. However, considering the presence of high value constituents both in the lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts and the studies showing the benefits of the use of these constituents in cosmetic products, it may be expected that the extracts may be promising ingredients in developing new natural cosmetic products, including cosmeceuticals. In addition, the extracts may be promising ingredients in the formulation of nutraceuticals.

Simultaneous and sequential combination of techniques for the sustainable and extensive extraction of proteins and polyphenols from malt rootlets

The emergence of tecnhiques such as microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), ultrasounds-assisted extraction (UAE), and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) has brough many benefits but their single use does not guarantee the hollistic extraction of target compounds from complex samples. Taking into account their different principles and that one technique may favour the extraction of certain compounds over others, this work proposes the combination of these techniques for improving extraction yields in the recovery of proteins, as example of large molecule, and phenolic compounds, as example of small molecule, from a recalcitrant sample. No single extraction technique recovered all proteins or phenolic compounds, even after a proper optimization. Among them, PLE was the most advantageous, enabling the extraction of 67 % proteins and 1.20 g gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/100 g sample. Analysis of samples by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and separation of extracts by reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) and sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) revealed that PLE showed the most distinct efficiency among EAE, MAE, and UAE, whereas the latter three exhibited more similar results. Based in these results, ten different combinations (sequential and/or simultaneous) of these techniques were proposed. PLE in combination with another technique showed a great potential for the extraction of both large and small molecules. Particularly, the combination of EAE and PLE recovered 100 % of proteins and more than three times the phenolic compounds extracted by other methods reported in the literature, even revealing significant synergistic effects.

Advanced Extraction Techniques Combined with Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents for Extracting Phenolic Compounds from Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) Peels.

Pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) peel is a potential source of bioactive phenolic compounds such as ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin. This work explores the efficiency of natural deep eutectic solvents combined with ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for their extraction. Five NaDESs were evaluated by employing UAE (25 °C, for 50 min) to determine their total phenolic content (Folin-Ciocalteu assay) and ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin contents (high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC-DAD)). The NaDES composed of choline chloride (ChCl) and glycerol (Gly) (1:2, molar ratio) was the most efficient in the UAE when compared with the rest of the NaDESs and water extracts. Therefore, ChCl:Gly was further evaluated using PLE at different temperatures (40, 80, 120 and 160 °C). The PLE-NaDES extract obtained at 80 °C for 20 min at 1500 psi exhibited the highest contents of ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin compared to the rest of the temperatures and PLE-water extracts obtained under the same extraction conditions. Combining UAE or PLE with a NaDES emerges as a sustainable alternative for extracting ellagic acid and α- and β-punicalagin from pomegranate peel.

Quantitative Study of Vitamin K in Plants by Pressurized Liquid Extraction and LC-MS/MS.

The health-promoting properties of vitamin K stimulate the growing interest in this compound, which translates into the development of new analytical methodologies for its determination. New, more efficient methods of its isolation are sought, paying increasingly more attention to the methods within currently available extraction techniques that, owing to the optimization of the process, not only increase the extraction efficiency but are also economical and environmentally friendly. This article proposes a procedure for the extraction and analysis of one of the vitamin K vitamers, i.e., vitamin K1, using PLE and LC-MS/MS. It has been shown that the PLE technique can be optimized with a mathematical model-accelerating and reducing the costs of the extraction process-which, together with process automation, bodes well for industrial applications. The optimized process was used to extract vitamin K1 from various vegetables, showing very different contents of the test compound ranging from 1.22 to 114.30 µg/g dry weight for avocado and spinach, respectively. In addition, by showing the effect of water within the material subjected to extraction on the variable yield of vitamin K1, attention was drawn to the need to standardize the analytical methods used in assessing the quality of food products.

Economic evaluation of pressurized liquid extraction system scale-up: a potential new business opportunity for yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis St.-Hil.) waste reuse

ABSTRACT Yerba mate processing generates large quantities of a residue with similar bioactive properties to the main product. The pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) strategy was recently proposed to obtain bioactive extracts from this waste on a laboratory scale. However, to verify the techno-economic viability of the PLE method scale-up in the yerba mate waste extract obtaining, we initially tested three different modeling approaches to fit the experimental data: Peleg’s, Second-order, and Logarithmic models. Also, we used the PLE conditions that maximized the extract total phenolic content (TPC) to evaluate the process’s economic feasibility through the cost of manufacturing (COM) estimation to different capacities: 50, 100, and 500 L. A sensitivity analysis was performed considering different selling prices. Peleg’s and Second-order models were the most suitable strategies to describe the extraction process. The dry extract COM reduced sensibly according to the increase of the process scale. Sensitivity analysis results suggest promising scenarios for selling dry extract. Our analyses indicated that PLE can be an economically feasible strategy to obtain valuable extracts from the yerba mate residue considering different selling prices and scale conditions. These results can orientate the yerba mate industries to create new products from industrial waste and maximize their profits.

In Vitro Antioxidant, Anti-Inflammatory Activity and Bioaccessibility of Ethanolic Extracts from Mexican Moringa oleifera Leaf.

This study aimed to assess the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, and bioaccessibility of Moringa oleifera ethanolic extracts using pressurized liquid extraction with varying ethanol concentrations (0%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 100%) in water-ethanol mixtures. Quercetin derivatives and neochlorogenic acid were identified as major compounds via high-performance liquid chromatography with diode array detection. The 70% ethanol extract displayed the highest antioxidant activity and phenolic content, highlighting a strong correlation between phenolics and antioxidant potential. Extracts prepared with 50% and 70% ethanol (30 μg/mL) significantly inhibited TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6 cytokine secretion, with the 70% ethanol extract demonstrating robust anti-inflammatory effects. During in vitro digestion (oral, gastric, and intestinal phases), minimal changes were noted in most phenolic compounds' post-oral phase, but reductions occurred after the gastric phase. Substantial decreases in major compounds and antioxidant activity were observed in post-gastric and intestinal phases. Overall, ethanolic extracts of Moringa oleifera, particularly those with 70% ethanol, exhibit promising antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, suggesting potential for developing therapeutic agents against oxidative stress and inflammation-related disorders. However, it is essential to protect these compounds to prevent their degradation during digestion.

Pressurized liquid extraction with ethanol in an intermittent process for rice bran oil: Evaluation of process variables on the content of β-sitosterol and phenolic compounds, antioxidant capacity, acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity, and oil quality

Rice bran is rich in lipids and normally contains the enzyme lipase, which degrades these lipids, making the oil unsuitable for consumption. This study analyzed a sustainable technique for extracting rice bran oil using ethanol as a solvent and compared this with traditional methods that use petroleum-derived solvents that are considered unsustainable and harmful to health. The pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) of this oil in an intermittent process showed yields between 24.83% and 27.22%, which is higher than those reported in the literature due to polar compounds in the extracted oils. The oil's acidity ranged from 2.79% to 3.22%, and the oxidative stability ranged from 0.04 h to 0.16 h. The levels of β-Sitosterol, phenolic compounds, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibitory activity, and antioxidant capacity were also evaluated. The results suggest that the PLE in an intermittent process can be a sustainable and effective alternative for the extraction of rice bran oil using ethanol as a solvent, providing satisfactory yields and preserving the quality of the oil.