Fatty acid profile and biological activity of supercritical fluid extract of Rosa canina L. seeds

The study concerns the extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide, from the seeds of Rosa canina L. Extraction experiments were carried out at a pressure of 300 bar and a temperature of 40 degrees C, SFE[300:40]. Analyses by GC-FID and HPLC-DAD of the extract showed elevated levels of linoleic acid, 18:2 n-6 (54.7%) and linolenic acid 18:3 n-3 (19.8%). The sample SFE[300:40] was compared with that obtained using n-hexane in a Soxhlet apparatus, (Sx). The antioxidant properties determined by the ABTS test, showed that SFE[300:40] and Sx had EC50 = (0.34 +/- 0.01) mg/mL, and no activity, respectively. The total phenolic content, expressed as the concentration of Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE), in the SFE[300:40] was (16 +/- 2 mg/g) and a concentration below the detection limit of the method for the Sx sample. The inhibition percentages against xanthine oxidase were 5% for SFE[300:40] and 12% for Sx extract.