Supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction of catechin, epicatechin, rutin and luteolin from spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) leaves

• Main Authors: Bimakr, Mandana, Abdul Rahman, Russly, Taip, Farah Saleena, Ling, Tau Chuan, Ganjloo, Ali, Md Salleh, Liza, Selamat, Jinap, Abdul Hamid, Azizah
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: IDOSI Publications 2008
• Online Access: http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44448/1/Supercritical%20carbon%20dioxide%20%28SC-CO2%29%20extraction%20of%20catechin%2C%20epicatechin%2C%20rutin%20and%20luteolin%20from%20spearmint%20%28Mentha%20spicata%20L.%29%20leaves.pdf; http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/44448/; https://www.idosi.org/wasj/wasj5(4)2008.htm

In this study, supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction conditions were optimized for the simultaneous separation of four bioactive flavonoids (catechin, CA; epicatechin, EP; rutin, RU; luteolin, LU) contained in spearmint (Mentha spicata L.) leaves. SC-CO2 extraction parameters such as pressure, temperature and dynamic extraction time were optimized by Complete Randomize Design (CRD) full factorial. The optimum condition of SC-CO2 extraction was achieved at 200 bar, 60°C and 60 min (with 60.566 mg/g extraction yield). Extracted yield at optimum condition was then analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) for quantifying bioactive flavonoid compounds. At optimum conditions, four bioactive flavonoids including (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, rutin and luteolin were detected at high concentration. Luteolin (0.657 mg/g) had the highest concentration among the other detected flavonoids. The results indicated that SC-CO2 extraction is a promising and alternative process for recovering the bioactive compounds from spearmint leaves.