Extraction of essential oil from Bunium Persicum (Boiss.) by instant controlled pressure drop

Essential oils extraction from Bunium Persicum (Boiss) was performed using instant controlled pressure drop (in French: Détente Instantanée Contrôlée or DIC) thechnology and optimum extraction conditions were obtained. Response surface methodology (RSM) was used to determine the optimal conditions and the results were 20 s heating time, 3.5 bar pressure, 0.44 mm particle diameter and 9 cycles. Essential oils extraction was also compared with Hydrodistillation (HD), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) and Soxhlet (SOX) extraction. Results show higher efficiency of the DIC than other methods and more oxygenated components were observed. Impact of DIC, HD, UAE and SOX on the morphological structure of the plant was studied by SEM. Antioxidant activity and total phenolic content (TPC) of the extract were determined and comapred by HD. Results show that DIC facilitates achieving to higher TPC and more antioxidant activity.