Short communicationExtraction, chemical characterization and antioxidant activity of andiroba seeds oil obtained from pressurized n-butane

•Andiroba oil extracted using pressurized n-butane at 25, 35 and 45 °C and pressures of 7, 10 and 13 bar.•Andiroba oil yield of 18 wt% was obtained at 25 °C and 7 bar for an extraction period of 45 min.•Palmitic and oleic acids were found as major components observed in the extracts.•Phenolic compounds value of 35.7 (mg EAG/100 g) and inhibition percentage of 22.2%.

In this work, andiroba oil extraction (Carapa guianensis) was investigated using pressurized n-butane as solvent at 25, 35 and 45 °C and pressures of 7, 10 and 13 bar. Andiroba oil yield as high as 18 wt% was obtained at the lowest temperature and pressure (25 °C and 7 bar) for an extraction period of 45 min. Regarding chemical composition, the major components observed in the extracts were palmitic and oleic acids, while for the phenolic compounds values between 11.2 and 35.7 (mg EAG/100 g) were experimentally observed. For the antioxidant activity, DPPH radical scavenging method employed for the extraction conditions of 25 °C and 13 bar and 45 °C/7 bar provided inhibition percentages of 22.2% and 17.4%, respectively. Extraction with n-butane thus showed to be a promising alternative technique to conventional extraction methods, as very mild operating conditions and eco-friendly solvent can be used to provide good results without any residues in the final product.