Supercritical Fluid Carbon Dioxide Extraction Research Articles

The Potential Antinociceptive Effect and Mechanism of Cannabis sativa L. Extract on Paclitaxel-Induced Neuropathic Pain in Rats Uncovered by Multi-Omics Analysis.

Cannabis sativa L. (hemp) is a herbaceous plant rich in cannabinoids with a long history of use in pain treatment. The most well-characterized cannabinoids, cannabidiol (CBD) and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), garnered much attention in chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) treatment. However, few studies have investigated the biological benefits and mechanism of hemp extract on CIPN. In the present study, hemp extract (JG) rich in cannabinoids was extracted by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SFCE). The antinociceptive efficacy was evaluated using a paclitaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy (PIPN) rat model based on behavioral tests. Further omics-based approaches were applied to explore the potential mechanisms. The results showed that JG decreased mechanical allodynia, thermal hyperalgesia, and inflammatory cytokines in PIPN rats significantly. Transcriptome analysis identified seven key genes significantly regulated by JG in PIPN model rats, mainly related to the neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, PPAR signaling pathway, and cAMP signaling pathway. In metabolomic analysis, a total of 39 significantly altered metabolites were identified, mainly correlated with pentose and glucuronate interconversions and the glycerophospholipid metabolism pathway. Gut microbiota analysis suggested that increased community Lachnoclostridium and Lachnospiraceae_UCG-006 in PIPN rats can be reversed significantly by JG. In conclusion, hemp extract exhibited antinociceptive effects on PIPN. The analgesic mechanism was probably related to the regulation of inflammation, neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathway, sphingolipid metabolism, etc. This study provides novel insights into the functional interactions of Cannabis sativa L. extract on PIPN.

Comparison of antimicrobial activities of oregano, lavender, sage, anise and clove extracts obtained by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction and essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to compare the extraction yields, chemical compositions and antimicrobial activities of essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and volatile extracts obtained by supercritical fluid extraction extraction (SFE) from oregano (Origanum onites), lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), sage (Salvia officinalis), anise (Pimpinella anisum) and clove (Syzygium aromaticum). Essential oil compounds (EOCs) of the obtained materials from both techniques (HD and SFE) were determined by GC-MS/FID. Agar well diffusion method was used for the determination of antimicrobial activities on five different foodborne microorganisms (Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli Enterococcus faecalis and Klebsiella pneumoniae). According to the results; extraction yields of SFE were found to be higher than HD for all tested aromatic plants. Active ingredient ratios (carvacrol, camphor, anethole, eugenole and linalol) varied depending on the extraction methods. SFE extracts were higher antimicrobial activity than HD essential oils, except clove extract on E. faecalis.

Effects of different preparation methods on the physical, chemical and functional properties of protein powders from Skipjack tuna (Katsuwonus pelamis) liver

Tuna livers (TL), which are often discarded as waste, are a valuable source of protein for human consumption. However, the preparation method used affects the nutritional and functional characteristics of protein powders. This work aimed to investigate the effects of different preparation methods on the physical, chemical, and functional properties of tuna liver protein powders (TLPPs) following heat (H) treatment, heat and ultrasound-assisted (HU) extraction, alkaline pH shift (APS) process, and supercritical carbon dioxide fluid (SC-CO2 ) extraction. H at 85°C (H85), HU at 80 kHz and 100 W (HU-80-100), APS at pH 11.5 (APS 11.5), and SC-CO2 at 350 bars (SC-CO2 -350) resulted in the remarkably highest total protein content among the different preparation conditions. All TLPPs, except for APS 11.5, showed lighter color characteristics. The most abundant amino acids in all TLPPs were glutamic acid, aspartic acid and alanine. The protein solubility and foaming capacity were efficiently improved by SC-CO2-350. Nevertheless, the emulsion properties and oil holding capacity were greatly enhanced by H85 and HU-80-100, and a significant foaming stability and water holding capacity were found in APS 11.5. Therefore, the TLPPs obtained following different preparation methods are unique and could be potentially utilized as a source of protein ingredients in several food systems.

Optimization of Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Fluid Extraction of Medicinal Cannabis from Quebec

Research on cannabis oil has evolved to encompass the pharmaceutical industry for the therapeutic potential of the active compounds for pathologies such as Alzheimer, auto-immune disorders, and cancer. These debilitating diseases are best treated with cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol (∆9-THC), cannabigerol (CBG), and cannabinol (CBN), which relieve neuropathic pain and stimulate the immune system. We extracted cannabinoids from plants with supercritical CO2 and produced an extract with a total yield close to 26%. The three-level Box–Behnken experimental design considered four factors: Temperature, pressure, CO2 flow rate, and processing time, with predetermined parameters at low, medium, and high levels. The mathematical model was evaluated by regression analysis. The yield of ∆9-THC and CBG reached a maximum after 2 h and 15 g/min of CO2, 235 bar, 55 °C (64.3 g THC/100 g of raw material and 4.6 g CBG/100 g of raw material). After another 2 h of extraction time, the yield of CBN reached 2.4 g/100 g. The regression analysis identified pressure and time as the only significant factors for total yield while pressure was the only significant factor for ∆9-THC and CBG. Time, temperature, pressure, and flow rate were all significant factors for CBN.

Optimization of Supercritical Fluid CO2 Extraction from Yellow Horn Seed and Its Anti-Fatigue and Antioxidant Activity.

A supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO2) extraction method was used to obtain the optimum process for extracting yellow horn seed oil. The anti-fatigue and antioxidant properties of the extracted oil were investigated through animal experiments. The optimum process conditions for SF-CO2 extraction of the yellow horn oil were 40 MPa, 50 °C and 120 min, with an extraction yield of 31.61%. The high-dose group of yellow horn oil could significantly increase the weight-bearing swimming time, the hepatic glycogen (HG) content and decrease the lactic acid (LA) content and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) content (p < 0.05) in mice. Moreover, it improved the antioxidant ability by reducing the malondialdehyde (MDA) content (p < 0.01) and raising the glutathione reductase (GR) content and superoxide dismutase (SOD) content (p < 0.05) in mice. Yellow horn oil has the effects of being an anti-fatigue and antioxidant substance, which provides a basis for its further utilization and development.

Evaluation of carbon dioxide supercritical fluid extraction (CO2-SFE) on carotenoids recovery from red yeast cells

AbstractIn this work, the performance of carotenoids extraction from Rhodotorula spp red yeast (strain ELP2022) using supercritical CO2 (CO2-SFE) was compared to the traditional technique with organic solvent. For this purpose, the yeast was cultured in liquid medium, pre-treated with glass beads in 0.1 M NaHCO3, and lyophilized. The extraction by CO2-SFE was carried out using a bench scale equipment at 300, 400, and 500 bar whilst maintaining a constant CO2 flow rate (6 mL/min) and temperature (40 °C) resulting in an average extraction yields of 60.8 ± 1.1, 68.0 ± 1.4, and 67.6 ± 1.4 µg of total carotenoids per g of yeast (dry weight), respectively. Based on these results, three other experiments at 400 bar and a CO2 flow rate of 6 L/min were also performed. In specific, the temperature was increased up to 60 °C, and ethanol as a co-solvent was added at 40 and 60 °C. The results showed that the temperature does not have a significant effect on the extraction of carotenoids. On the contrary, the yields improved significantly in the presence of the co-solvent, and the percentage of recovery reached the mean values of 71.70% ± 1.4 and 73.86% ± 1.9 at 40 and 60 °C, respectively. Furthermore, from chromatographic analysis, four major peaks were observed and identified as torularhodin, torulene, γ-carotene, and β-carotene which represented about 53.4%, 6.4%, 8.3%, and 26.9% of total carotenoids, respectively. Therefore, these promising results show the potential of this green technique for obtaining high-value products, such as carotenoids, from yeasts and therefore avoiding the use of dangerous solvents.

Subcritical liquified dimethyl ether and supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction of gamma oryzanol from rice bran acid oil

Gamma oryzanol (γ-oryzanol) is a bioactive compound in rice bran acid oil, a by-product of the rice bran oil refining process that possesses various pharmacological properties. This study investigated the effect of green technology supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (SF–CO2) and subcritical liquified dimethyl ether extraction (SUBLDME) of γ-oryzanol from rice bran acid oil. Results showed that subcritical liquified dimethyl ether extracted oryzanol at 4865.25 mg/100 g from rice bran acid oil without pretreatment by hexane and ethyl acetate compared with supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction (2569.04 mg/100 g), with high extraction efficiency (62.73 vs 18.86%). Further extraction of the filter cake remaining from supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction from rice bran acid oil without pretreatment using subcritical liquified dimethyl ether extraction gave the highest percentage yield and γ-oryzanol contents (8128.51 mg/100 g). Supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction together with subcritical liquified dimethyl ether extraction showed promise as a green technology to extract γ-oryzanol from rice bran acid oil. Further studies are required to optimize both SF-CO2 and SUBLDME extraction methods to increase the γ-oryzanol content.

Comparison of Single Control Loop Performance Monitoring Methods

Well-performing control loops have an integral role in efficient and sustainable industrial production. Control performance monitoring (CPM) tools are necessary to establish further process optimization and preventive maintenance. Data-driven, model-free control performance monitoring approaches are studied in this research by comparing the performance of nine CPM methods in an industrially relevant process simulation. The robustness of some of the methods is considered with varying fault intensities. The methods are demonstrated on a simulator which represents a validated state-space model of a supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction process. The simulator is constructed with a single-input single-output unit controller for part of the process and a combination of relevant faults in the industry are introduced into the simulation. Of the demonstrated methods, Kullback–Leibler divergence, Euclidean distance, histogram intersection, and Overall Controller Efficiency performed the best in the first simulation case and could identify all the simulated fault scenarios. In the second case, integral-based methods Integral Squared Error and Integral of Time-weighted Absolute Error had the most robust performance with different fault intensities. The results highlight the applicability and robustness of some model-free methods and construct a solid foundation in the application of CPM in industrial processes.

Moringa oleifera L. Screening: SFE-CO2 Optimisation and Chemical Composition of Seed, Leaf, and Root Extracts as Potential Cosmetic Ingredients

Moringa oleifera L. tree (Mo) has emerged as a rich alternative source of bioactive compounds to design cosmetic formulations. Supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE-CO2) was successfully applied on the screening of Mo seed, leaf, and root extracts. The extraction yield was evaluated by response surface methodology (RSM), for pressure and temperature ranges of 117–273 bar and 41–60 °C, respectively, using a design of experiments (DOE). The pressure significantly affected the results (α=0.05), with the highest extraction efficiency obtained at conditions above 195 bar. The extracts’ composition, evaluated by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS), revealed an increasing correlation between the pressure, total extract solubility, and mass of extract at a constant temperature, due to the higher extraction yield. Seed extracts presented more than 80% of oleic acid in relative composition (8.04 mgcompound∙gplantpart−1). Leaf extracts performed well for the obtainment of linolenic acid (&gt;20%; 3.10 mg∙g−1), nonacosane (&gt;22%; 0.46 mg∙g−1), and α-tocopherol (&gt;20%; 0.21 mg∙g−1). Mo root resulted in higher relative composition for sterol molecules, despite its very low affinity with CO2. The most promising bioactive compounds, oleic acid and α-tocopherol, were more abundant when operating at 250 bar at 45 °C and 195 bar at 55 °C, for Mo seed and leaf SFE-CO2 extracts, respectively.

Study on SFE‐CO2 and chemical composition of thuja essential oil

AbstractThuja (Thuja sutchuenensis Franch.) (family Cupressaceae) is a Chinese endemic plant once declared extinct in China. After being rediscovered in 1999, it attracted the attention of domestic scholars. This study aimed to investigate the extraction process and composition of the essential oil from thuja to provide a reference for further research. The main xylem of thuja collected from the Qinling‐Bashan mountains was used as the experimental material. The essential oil of thuja was extracted by the supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE‐CO2) process, and the composition of the essential oil was detected by gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). Extraction pressure, extraction temperature, and extraction dynamic time were the main factors influencing the extraction rate. The optimal conditions for the extraction include the following: maintaining the extraction pressure at 20 MPa, extracting for 60 min at 45 °C, and maintaining the CO2 flow rate at 1.5 L min–1 at 120 °C. Under the optimal extraction conditions, the oil extraction rates of three verification experiments were 18.87, 18.63, and 19.07%. The GC‐MS detected 136 components from the extracted thuja essential oil, and 75 components were identified. The main components of the essential oil were cis‐thujopsene (23.54%) and cedrol (13.08%). In this study, the optimal process for SFE‐CO2 of essential oil from the xylem of thuja was obtained. Under this optimized process, the average oil content was 18.86%.

Optimization of supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction of seized cannabis and self-emulsifying drug delivery system for enhancing the dissolution of cannabis extract

This work sought to optimize the extraction of seized cannabis by supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE). Due to its low water solubility, the cannabis extract was prepared as a self-emulsifying drug delivery system (SEDDS) to enhance its dissolution. The highest cannabidiol and ∆9-tetrahydrocannabinol contents were achieved at 18 MPa and 40 °C without the use of ethanol. The SEDDS droplet size, polydispersity index, D10, D50, D90, span, zeta potential, and emulsification time were evaluated to identify the formulation with minimized droplet size and emulsification time. The optimal formulation was composed of a 45:40:20 mass ratio of (2:1 Tween® 80:Span® 80):coconut oil:cannabis extract. The optimized SEDDS successfully enhanced the dissolution of cannabis extract obtained from SFE.

Effect of supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extract from Chrysanthemum indicum Linn\xe9 on bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis

BackgroundAs a prevalent type of cryptogenic fibrotic disease with high mortality, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) still lacks effective therapeutic drugs. The compounds extracted from buds and flowers of Chrysanthemum indicum Linné with supercritical-carbon dioxide fluid (CISCFE) has been confirmed to have antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and lung-protective effects. This paper aimed to clarify whether CISCFE could treat IPF induced by bleomycin (BLM) and elucidate the related mechanisms.MethodsRats (Sprague-Dawley, male) were separated into the following groups: normal, model, pirfenidone (50 mg/kg), CISCFE-L, −M, and -H (240, 360, and 480 mg/kg/d, i.g., respectively, for 4 weeks). Rats were given BLM (5 mg/kg) via intratracheal installation to establish the IPF model. A549 and MRC-5 cells were stimulated by Wnt-1 to establish a cell model and then treated with CISCFE. Haematoxylin-eosin (H&E) and Masson staining were employed to observe lesions in the lung tissues. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) and Western blot (WB) were performed to observe changes in genes and proteins connected with the Wnt/β-catenin pathway.ResultsCISCFE inhibited the proliferation of MRC-5 cells (IC50: 2.723 ± 0.488 μg/mL) and A549 cells (IC50: 2.235 ± 0.229 μg/mL). In rats, A549 cells, and MRC-5 cells, BLM and Wnt-1 obviously induced the protein expression of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), vimentin, type I collagen (collagen-I), and Nu-β-catenin. The mRNA levels of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and − 9 (MMP-9), two enzymes that degrade and reshape the extracellular matrix (ECM) were also increased while those of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1 (TIMP-1) were decreased. However, CISCFE reversed the effects of BLM and Wnt-1 on the expression pattern of these proteins and genes.ConclusionThese findings showed that CISCFE could inhibit IPF development by activating the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and may serve as a treatment for IPF after further investigation.

Advances in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Bioactive Substances from Different Parts of Ginkgo biloba L.

Ginkgo biloba L. has always been a popular area of research due to its various active ingredients and pharmacological effects. Ginkgo biloba is rich in ginkgo flavonoids, ginkgolides, and ginkgolic acid, with anti-inflammation, antioxidation, neuroprotection, anti-platelet agglutination, hypolipidemic effect, anti-cancer, and anti-radiation properties. There are many methods to extract and separate the active components of ginkgo. Among them, supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SFE-CO2) is known for its green, clean, and environment-friendly properties. In this paper, the pharmacological activities, the active components, and structures of different parts of ginkgo, the extraction methods of its effective ingredients, and the application of the SFE-CO2 method for the extraction and separation of active ingredients in Ginkgo biloba from leaves, seeds, pollen, and roots were reviewed, in order to make best use of ginkgo resources, and provide support and references for the development of SFE-CO2 of active components from Ginkgo biloba.

Characterization of 14-Crown-4 Ethers for the Extraction of Lithium from Natural Brines: Synthesis, Solubility Measurements in Supercritical Carbon Dioxide, and Thermodynamic Modeling

Improving lithium mining methods is key to furthering lithium’s use as an energy metal. Current mining methods from brines are slow and inefficient and have significant environmental impacts, providing an avenue of research toward developing more effective and less environmentally damaging methods. Supercritical fluid extraction has been evaluated in earlier research for the extraction of metals such as uranium, mercury, and several alkali and earth alkaline metals from aqueous solutions but not for lithium. This study documents the synthesis and preliminary testing of two lithium extractants for possible application in a supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction process to recover lithium from natural brines. Based on their high solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide and their desirable structural properties, two 14-crown-4 ethers with different functional groups were selected. In this work, solubility measurements and thermodynamic modeling were carried out to characterize their solubility behavior in the range of P = 100–300 bar with T = 60 °C and T = 85 °C. The main conclusion from this work is the experimental observation of sufficiently high solubilities of the synthesized crown ethers in supercritical carbon dioxide. The highest measured solubility of M14C4, the nonfluorinated 14-crown-4 ether, was 0.30 mol/L at 60 °C and 205 bar, and the highest measured solubility of F14C4, the fluorinated 14-crown-4 ether, was 0.27 mol/L at 60 °C and 285 bar. Another major conclusion was the observed higher solubility of M14C4 than F14C4. We also showed that equation of state modeling provides insight into the factors affecting the crown ether solubility in supercritical carbon dioxide.

Identification of the fatty acids profiles in supercritical CO2 fluid and Soxhlet extraction of Samara oil from different cultivars of Elaeagnus mollis Diels seeds

Nutritional values in five cultivars of Elaeagnus mollis Diels seeds were evaluated. The profiles of fatty acids in samara oil (SO1 to SO5), extracted from five cultivars of Elaeagnus mollis Diels seeds were identified by GC–MS. Two extraction technologies, supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (SF-CO2) and Soxhlet extraction were also compared. A higher oil yield was obtained through Soxhlet extraction against SF-CO2 technology. SF-CO2-Extracted SO obtained higher unsaturated fatty acid (USFA) content, while Soxhlet-Extracted SO had higher saturated fatty acid (SFA) content. The ratio of USFA to SFA was 9:1. Linoleic acid, oleic acid, and palmitic acid were the most abundant fatty acids identified in SO. The content ratio of linoleic acid to α-Linolenic acid in SO4 was close to the proportions in breast milk (6:1). SO1 and SO4 could be used as potential sources to develop functional food products. SF-CO2 technology was a better option for SO extraction regarding preservation of bioactive compounds.

In vitro antioxidant activity and enzyme inhibition properties of wheat whole grain, bran and flour defatted with hexane and supercritical fluid extraction

Wheat, the most common cereal from the genus Triticum, owing to its immense food value ranks as the second most important crop worldwide. A diverse range of human health benefits is obtained from phenolics of whole wheat products. Here, two methods, namely, hexane and supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction (SC–CO2), have been deployed for the purpose of successful extraction of phenolic acids by defatting wheat whole grain, bran, and flour. SC-CO2 yielded 5.2–9.6% higher oil than hexane extraction. Total phenolic content (TPC) and individual phenolic acids content of esterified SC-CO2 defatted wheat whole grain (SWG) samples were 0.85–2.6-fold higher than its hexane counterpart. Ferulic acid and p-coumaric acid were more abounded phenolic acids in the wheat grain. A higher antioxidant capacity in DPPH, ABTS and phosphomolybdenum assay was observed in esterified SWG that corroborated with higher reducing activity by FRAP, CUPRAC assays, and metal chelating activity. An effective inhibitory activity of esterified SWG was observed against a-amylase, tyrosinase, lipase and acetylcholinesterase. Finally, positive correlation was found between TPC and its corresponding antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities. In summary, phenolics rich fraction, elevated antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities were aided in wheat grain defatted samples enriched with SC-CO2.

Extract of Ganoderma sinensis spores induces cell cycle arrest of hepatoma cell via endoplasmic reticulum stress

Context Ganoderma sinensis Zhao, Xu et Zhang (Ganodermataceae) has been used for the prevention or treatment of a variety of diseases, including cancer. Objective We investigated the antitumor activity and mechanism of an extract from G. sinensis against hepatocellular carcinoma. Materials and methods A G. sinensis extract (GSE) was obtained from sporoderm-broken G. sinensis spores by supercritical fluid carbon dioxide extraction. Hepatoma cells, HepG2 cells, were treated with emulsified sample of GSE at 12.5, 25, 50, 100 and 150 μg/mL for 24 h. The Alamar Blue assay was used to examine growth inhibitory effects. Changes in cell structure and morphology were assessed via transmission electron microscopy and confocal laser scanning microscope. Cell cycle distribution was analysed by flow cytometry. Results GSE suppressed the proliferation of HepG2 cells (IC50=70.14 μg/mL). Extensive cytoplasmic vacuolation originating from dilation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) was shown in GSE-treated HepG2 cells. GSE treatment also upregulated the expression of ER stress-related proteins in HepG2 cells. Cells tended to be arrested at the G2/M cell cycle stage after GSE treatment (30.8 ± 1.4% and 42.2 ± 2.6% at GSE with 50 μg/mL and 100 μg/mL vs. 21.03 ± 1.10%, control). Pre-treatment with salubrinal, an inhibitor of ER stress, effectively attenuated cell cycle arrest induced by GSE. Discussion and conclusions Our findings provide new evidence that GSE suppresses growth of cancer cells in vitro through activating the ER stress pathway. The GSE may be clinically applied in the prevention and/or treatment of cancer.

Extracts of Taiwan Tangerine (Citrus depressa Hayata) via Supercritical Fluid Carbon Dioxide Extraction on the Regulation of Hypertension in Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Taiwan tangerine (Citrus depressa Hayata) is a well-known traditional citrus fruit in Okinawa and Taiwan. Citrus depressa Hayata is rich in the functional components as nobiletin and tangeretin, which have been verified to significantly regulate the metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study was the application of the supercritical fluid carbon dioxide (CO_2) extraction technology to extract the extracts of Citrus depressa Hayata and evaluated the extracts on the efficacy verification of regulation hypertension in the spontaneously hypertensive rats. In this study, Citrus depressa Hayata was extracted by supercritical CO_2 extraction after sample pretreatment and the extraction rate of Citrus depressa Hayata was 2%. Later, a high-performance liquid chromatograph was used to detect the functional components (nobiltin and tangeretin) of Citrus depressa Hayata. The samples of supercritical fluid CO_2 extraction were separated by a C_(18) column after solvent extraction, and the mobile phase was set at 0.1% formic acid to acetonitrile is 1:1 (v/v), and the correlation coefficient r^2 value is greater than 0.999. The lowest detection limit (LOD) and lowest quantification limit (LOQ) of nobiltin and tangeretin are both 0.04 and 0.13 μg/ml. The efficacy verification to conduct blood pressure regulation tests of the extracts of Citrus depressa Hayata in vivo were performed. The extracts were orally administered to the spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) to evaluate the effect of Citrus depressa Hayata extracts in regulating blood pressure. In vivo results were showed that the body weight in each group was not significantly different with or without oral administration with Citrus depressa Hayata extracts. After 6 weeks administration of Citrus depressa Hayata extracts in SHRs, the average blood pressure (MBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were decrease and continued until week 6 administration. MBP of SHRs after oral administration with Citrus depressa Hayata extracts for 6 weeks can be decreased 11 mmHg compared to the beginning of this study. Taken these results together, Citrus depressa Hayata extracts has a potential ability to regulate blood pressure. In addition, using of supercritical CO_2 extraction technology to extract the Citrus depressa Hayata extracts is safe for human consumption.

Could Supercritical Extracts from the Aerial Parts of Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr. and Helianthus tuberosus L. Be Regarded as Potential Raw Materials for Biocidal Purposes?

Extracts from the June collection of aerial parts of Helianthus salicifolius A. Dietr and Helianthus tuberosus L. were obtained using carbon dioxide supercritical fluid extraction with water as co-solvent. The antimicrobial effect in vitro of these extracts was then determined against reference species of bacteria, as well as against fungi (represented by Candida spp.). Both extracts were found to possess antimicrobial activity, with MIC = 0.62–5 mg mL−1 for bacteria and MIC = 5–10 mg mL−1 for yeasts, and both extracts demonstrated suitable bactericidal and fungicidal effect. The highest activity was observed against S. aureus ATCC 29213 (MIC = 0.62 mg mL−1 for H. salicifolius extract; MIC = 2.5 mg mL−1 for H. tuberosus extract) as confirmed by time–kill assay. Higher antioxidant activity was found for H. tuberosus extract (EC50 = 0.332 mg mL−1) as compared to that of H. salicifolius (EC50 = 0.609 mg mL−1). The total polyphenol content (TPC) expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE) was 13.75 ± 0.50 mg GAE g−1 of H. salicifolius extract and 33.06 ± 0.80 mg GAE g−1 of H. tuberosus extract. There was a relationship between the antioxidant potential of both extracts and TPC, but not between antistaphylococcal activity and TPC. The ATIR–FTIR spectra of both extracts showed similar main vibrations of the functional groups typical for phytoconstituents possessing bioactivity. The obtained data suggest potential application of these extracts as natural antioxidants and preparations with biocidal activity. Additionally, both extracts may be regarded as potential natural conservants in cosmetics, as well as natural preservatives in food.

A generalized neural network model for the VLE of supercritical carbon dioxide fluid extraction of fatty oils

In the present work, a neural network (NN) model was developed for the precise prediction of the phase behavior of supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and fatty oils. A total of 678 SC-CO2 + fatty oils vapor–liquid equilibrium datasets for fatty acids, methyl and ethyl esters plus 120 data points for further accuracy examinations were used. The Cascade-Forward scheme was used as the basic architecture for the NN model calculations and predictions. Comparison between the values of the average absolute deviation of the NN model and the most important existing models showed that the NN model outperforms the other alternatives. The overall AAD for CO2 mole fractions in liquid and vapor phases were obtained to be 1.516 and 0.312%, respectively.