Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
This study investigates the sequential extraction of lipids and saponins from <i>C. frondosa</i> viscera. Lipids were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the presence of ethanol (EtOH) as a co-solvent. Subsequently, the lipid-extracted viscera u...
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| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Marine Drugs |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/272 |
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| Summary: | This study investigates the sequential extraction of lipids and saponins from <i>C. frondosa</i> viscera. Lipids were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the presence of ethanol (EtOH) as a co-solvent. Subsequently, the lipid-extracted viscera underwent three saponin extraction approaches, scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub>, scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH, and scCO<sub>2</sub>-hot water, resulting in saponin-rich extracts. Process parameter investigation for saponin extraction from scCO<sub>2</sub>-defatted viscera revealed minimal effects of temperature, pressure, extraction time, static extraction, and EtOH concentration on saponin yields, allowing for milder operational conditions (35 °C, 20 MPa, 30 min dynamic extraction, 75% EtOH at 0.5 mL/min) to achieve energy-efficient recovery. Continuous EtOH feeding predominates the scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of saponins. The sequential scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid and saponins yielded saponins at 9.13 mg OAE/g, while scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid followed by a 24 h 70% EtOH extraction of saponins achieved 16.26 mg OAE/g, closely matching the optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction of saponins (17.31 mg OAE/g) from hexane-defatted samples. Antioxidant activities of saponin-rich extracts obtained in the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH extraction (17.12 ± 4.20% DPPH scavenging) and the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction (16.14 ± 1.98%) were comparable to BHT (20.39 ± 0.68%), surpassing that of hexane-defatted ultrasonic extracts (8.11 ± 1.16%). The optimized scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH method offers a sustainable alternative, eliminating toxic solvents while maintaining high saponin yields and bioactivity. |
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| ISSN: | 1660-3397 |