Supercritical CO2 extraction of pigment components with pharmaceutical importance from Chlorella vulgaris

BACKGROUND: Chlorella vulgaris is a green microalgae that contains various pigment components of carotenoids and chlorophylls. Supercritical CO2 is widely used for extraction of pharmaceutical compounds because it is non-oxic and easily separated from extracted material by simply depressurizing. In this work, pharmaceutical compounds from Chlorella vulgaris have been extracted using supercritical CO2 with or without entrainerat various extraction conditions. RESULTS: Based on high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, the extracts contained pigment components, such as lutein, β-carotene, chlorophyll a andb. Higher extraction pressure and temperature promoted higher lutein extraction by supercritical CO2. The optimum pressure and temperature for extraction were obtained as 50 MPa and 80 ◦ C. Ethanol as an entrainer was more effective than acetone for the extraction of pigment components. Pigment components in the extract obtainedbysupercriticalCO2 withandwithoutentrainerwerecomparedwiththeextractobtainedbyaconventionalextraction method. CONCLUSION:SupercriticalCO2 hasbeensuccessfullyappliedfortheextractionofpigmentcomponentsfromChlorellavulgaris. Supercritical CO2 enabled high selectivity for lutein extraction; however, the lutein yield was lower than that obtained by extraction using supercritical CO2 with ethanol and soxhlet. c � 2008 Society of Chemical Industry

[1]  M. Goto,et al.  Process optimization and extraction rate analysis of carotenoids extraction from rosehip fruit using supercritical CO2 , 2008 .

[2]  G. P. Blanch,et al.  Application of Chrastil's model to the extraction in SC-CO2 of β-carotene and lutein in Mentha spicata L. , 2007 .

[3]  F. Abas,et al.  Screening of Malaysian indigenous microalgae for antioxidant properties and nutritional value , 2007, Journal of Applied Phycology.

[4]  B. Nobre,et al.  Functional food oil coloured by pigments extracted from microalgae with supercritical CO2 , 2007 .

[5]  M. Goto,et al.  Extraction of Astaxanthin from Haematococcus p luvialis Using Supercritical CO 2 and Ethanol as Entrainer , 2006 .

[6]  A. P. Batista,et al.  Chlorella vulgaris and Haematococcus pluvialis biomass as colouring and antioxidant in food emulsions , 2006 .

[7]  Y. Yoshikai,et al.  Enhanced resistance againstEscherichia coli infection by subcutaneous administration of the hot-water extract ofChlorella vulgaris in cyclophosphamide-treated mice , 2005, Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.

[8]  Y. Okamoto,et al.  A hot water extract of Chlorella pyrenoidosa reduces body weight and serum lipids in ovariectomized rats , 2004, Phytotherapy research : PTR.

[9]  Beatriz P. Nobre,et al.  Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of compounds with pharmaceutical importance from microalgae , 2003 .

[10]  Y. Natori,et al.  Antioxidant and anti-cataract effects of Chlorella on rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes. , 2003, Journal of nutritional science and vitaminology.

[11]  L. Gouveia,et al.  Colouring ornamental fish (Cyprinus carpio and Carassius auratus) with microalgal biomass , 2003 .

[12]  F. Khachik.  An efficient conversion of (3R,3'R,6'R)-lutein to (3R,3'S,6'R)-lutein (3'-epilutein) and (3R,3'R)-zeaxanthin. , 2003, Journal of natural products.

[13]  J. Santinha,et al.  Pigmentation of gilthead seabream, Sparus aurata (L. 1875), using Chlorella vulgaris (Chlorophyta, Volvocales) microalga , 2002 .

[14]  Feng Chen,et al.  Isolation and purification of lutein from the microalga Chlorella vulgaris by extraction after saponification. , 2002, Journal of agricultural and food chemistry.

[15]  K. Tanaka,et al.  A novel glycoprotein obtained from Chlorella vulgaris strain CK22 shows antimetastatic immunopotentiation , 1998, Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.

[16]  M. Mitsuyama,et al.  Protective effect of an acidic glycoprotein obtained from culture of Chlorella vulgaris against myelosuppression by 5-fluorouracil , 1996, Cancer Immunology, Immunotherapy.

[17]  Joaquim M. S. Cabral,et al.  Supercritical CO2 extraction of carotenoids and other lipids from Chlorella vulgaris , 1995 .

[18]  Y. Yoshikai,et al.  Accelerated restoration of the leukocyte number and augmented resistance against Escherichia coli in cyclophosphamide-treated rats orally administered with a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris. , 1990, International journal of immunopharmacology.

[19]  K. Tanaka,et al.  Augmentation of the resistance against Escherichia coli by oral administration of a hot water extract of Chlorella vulgaris in rats. , 1989, International journal of immunopharmacology.