Extraction of cumaru seed oil using compressed propane as solvent

This study reports the oil extraction from cumaru seeds by compressed propane (CPE). Extractions were performed varying temperature (20, 40, 60 °C), pressure (2, 6, 10 MPa), and average particle size (2, 1.7, 1.0, 0.5 mm). The results were compared respect to coumarin content, total phenolic content, antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. It was obtained that 98 % of the total oil present in the seeds can be recovered at 60 °C, 10 MPa, and 0.5 mm. The fatty acid profile indicated that the oil obtained with CPE is richer in unsaturated fatty acids than samples obtained in Soxhlet extraction with n-hexane. Antimicrobial activity was found against Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. Antioxidant activity increased with the coumarin content and both activities were influenced by the coumarin presence (0.11−0.50 wt%). The results showed that CPE is selective for cumaru oil extraction with low contents of coumarin within the constant extraction rate period.