OPTIMISATION OF SUPERCRITICAL CARBON DIOXIDE EXTRACTION OF LIPOPHILIC EXTRACT FROM ROSEHIPS

Rosehips (Rosa canina) contain biologically active compounds, such as carotenoids, tocopherols, polyphenolics, and organic acids. Carotenoids are widespread pigments in plants, where they are involved in photosynthesis and photoprotection, but they are also found in human tissues where they may act as antioxidants or as immunomodulating, antimutagenic and tumour-preventing agents. Therefore, developments of processes of isolation of rosehips extracts with these compounds are of interest. In this study, the lipophilic extract of rosehips was obtained by supercritical fluid extraction with carbon dioxide under different extraction conditions. The aim of this work was to optimize the extraction process of lipophilic extracts from rosehips using pressures from 15 to 45 MPa, temperatures from 40 to 80 degrees C and extraction time from 60 to 180 min, and to evaluate the yield of biologically active high-value compounds carotenoids (lycopene and beta-carotene). The content of total carotenoids in extracts was analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The optimal conditions in terms of maximising lipophilic extract yield were 75.2 degrees C, 44 MPa, 115 min. That allowed the recovery of 65% of the lipophilic extract in comparison to control.