Optimization of fractionation process of amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) by applying high pressure extraction methods (original) (raw)

10 chemopreventative substance, anticancerogenic and reducing serum cholesterol levels. Squalene is used in cosmetics, and more recently as an immunologic adjuvant in vaccines (Sun, et al., 1997). Amaranth seeds also contain high quality proteins with amino acid composition close to the ideal protein (Yanez, et al., 1994). The main aim of this research was to create exhaustive and effective extraction and fractionation process of anatomical parts and bioactive compounds of amaranth grown in Lithuania, applying high pressure extraction methods and rational raw material processing in order to obtain high value and different composition functional components. The following objectives were raised for achieving this aim: 1. To evaluate seed pretreatment for effective and exhaustive extraction. 2. To determine optimal parameters on the extraction efficiency of lipid fraction from amaranth seeds by using pressurised liquid extraction and to compare lipid yields and composition of amaranth seeds obtained from various sources in Lithuania. 3. To determine the optimal conditions (temperature, pressure, extraction time, CO 2 flow rate) for the extraction of amaranth oil using SCE-CO 2 and to test the established optimal parameters for the determination of oil yield, fatty acid composition and squalene content in various amaranth accessions. 4. To investigate the possibilities of extraction and fractionation of tocopherols and squalene from amaranth seeds by SCE-CO 2 using cosolvent ethanol and two separators and to evaluate the antioxidant activity of lipophilic extracts. 5. To evaluate antioxidant properties and characterize phytochemical composition of different anatomical parts (seeds, leaves, flowers, and stems) of locally grown Amaranthus spp. 6. To determine the optimal conditions for the extraction of rutin as the main flavonoid from amaranth leaves using PLE and to improve rutin separation using supercritical antisolvent fractionation in order to obtain fraction enriched with rutin. 7. To evaluate biorefinery possibilities of anatomical parts of amaranth in order to obtain functional high-added value components.  Scientific novelty and practical significance of the research. Every variety of plants is characterized by unique biological structure and the phytochemical composition of secondary metabolism products. The amount of bioactive compounds, even of the same variety, varies according to growing climatic conditions. For this reason it is very important to develop effective methods of isolation and fractionation of in Lithuania grown amaranth (Amaranthus spp.) components and bioactive compounds by applying traditional and modern methods as well as modelling their parameters, which should ensure rational and costeffective processing of plant origin raw materials into high added value functional ingredients for various applications. Until now scarce comprehensive studies were performed for Amaranthus spp. grown in Lithuania. There were none performed Ethanol Water Carbon dioxide 52.39±0.28 b 35.70±0.21 c 299.2 45 7.53±0.14 c 200.1±2.25 b 49.16±0.17 d 34.78±0.44 b 291.6 55 9.79±0.09 d 211.8±1.79 d 57.07±0.67 e 38.59±0.15 e 317.3 65 8.06±0.04 b 207.8±2.93 d 52.32±0.99 b 36.78±0.29 d 304.9 z Ethanol was used as cosolvent; Results are expressed as a mean ± standard deviation (n=3); different superscript letters within the same column indicate significant differences (one way ANOVA and Duncans' test, p<0.05).