Extraction of bioactive compounds from peach palm pulp (Bactris gasipaes) using supercritical CO2

• The use of supercritical CO2, produces carotenoid-rich extracts from peach palm pulp.
• The highest concentration of carotenoids was obtained at 300 bar–40 °C.
• The antioxidant activity was comparable with the standard caffeic acid, however the importance of β-carotene is mainly to be the precursor of vitamin A.

Natural compounds with biological activity have recently attracted special interest in the agro-industry as sources of additives in nutraceutical food production and pharmaceutical industries. Herein, we evaluated extracts obtained from peach palm fruit (Bactris gasipaes) using supercritical carbon dioxide, in terms of yield, total phenolic content, total flavonoids, total carotenoids, and antioxidant activity by β-carotene bleaching method. Extractions were performed at 40, 50, and 60 °C and 100, 200, and 300 bar; additionally, Soxhlet (with petroleum ether) and methanol extraction were conducted. The results showed that supercritical CO2 allows obtaining extracts rich in carotenoids and, although it presents lower yield than conventional extraction (SOX), supercritical CO2 represents a technique with greater advantages. The best operation condition for supercritical extraction was 300 bar–40 °C, given that the highest concentration of carotenoids was obtained, without the yield being significantly different from that obtained with 300 bar–60 °C, this extract had antioxidant activity comparable to that of commercial caffeic acid.

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