Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran

Rice bran (RB) is a rice processing by-product recognized to be a source of bioactive compounds, including γ-oryzanol and fatty acids, which have interesting bioactivities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process for re...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: João P. Baixinho, Martim Cardeira, Andreia Bento-Silva, Ana Maria Carvalho Partidário, Ana Teresa Serra, Maria do Rosário Bronze, Naiara Fernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Antioxidants
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/2/206
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850081728798916608
author João P. Baixinho
Martim Cardeira
Andreia Bento-Silva
Ana Maria Carvalho Partidário
Ana Teresa Serra
Maria do Rosário Bronze
Naiara Fernández
author_facet João P. Baixinho
Martim Cardeira
Andreia Bento-Silva
Ana Maria Carvalho Partidário
Ana Teresa Serra
Maria do Rosário Bronze
Naiara Fernández
author_sort João P. Baixinho
collection DOAJ
description Rice bran (RB) is a rice processing by-product recognized to be a source of bioactive compounds, including γ-oryzanol and fatty acids, which have interesting bioactivities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process for recovering these high-value compounds from rice bran with improved bioactivity. A Central Composite Face-Centered Design was employed to optimize the extraction process by varying the temperature (40–80 °C) and pressure (200–500 bar). The optimal extraction conditions were identified at 500 bar and 62 °C that led to the extraction of 17.3% mass yield with 784.5 mg of fatty acids and 36.6 mg of γ-oryzanol per gram of extract, striking a balance between extraction yield and bioactive concentrations. When compared with conventional extractions with n-hexane, supercritical fluid extraction showed similar global yield (18.0 vs. 17.3%) and FA concentration (130.14 vs. 135.70 mg/g of RB) but higher selectivity and extraction yield for γ-oryzanol (18.0 vs. 36.4 mg/g extract; 3.3 vs. 6.3 mg/g of RB). Cellular antioxidant activity assays showed that both extracts reduced the quantity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) up to 50% in Caco-2 cells submitted to oxidative stress. Importantly, supercritical fluid extract was more effective in inhibiting colorectal cancer cell growth (EC50 = 0.9 mg/mL vs. 1.15 mg/mL) than the hexane extract, and this effect was more pronounced than that obtained for pure γ-oryzanol in the same concentration range. These findings highlight the potential of supercritical fluid technology to develop rice bran extracts with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, underlining the promising applications of this technology in the field of natural product extraction.
format Article
id doaj-art-16828e34640c4eaba2fde19222536cb6
institution DOAJ
issn 2076-3921
language English
publishDate 2025-02-01
publisher MDPI AG
record_format Article
series Antioxidants
spelling doaj-art-16828e34640c4eaba2fde19222536cb62025-08-20T02:44:40ZengMDPI AGAntioxidants2076-39212025-02-0114220610.3390/antiox14020206Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice BranJoão P. Baixinho0Martim Cardeira1Andreia Bento-Silva2Ana Maria Carvalho Partidário3Ana Teresa Serra4Maria do Rosário Bronze5Naiara Fernández6iBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugalResearch Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculdade de Farmácia da Universidade de Lisboa, Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-003 Lisboa, PortugalInstituto Nacional de Investigação Agrária e Veterinária, I.P., Unidade de Tecnologia e Inovação, Av. da República, Quinta do Marquês, 2780-157 Oeiras, PortugaliBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET, Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugalRice bran (RB) is a rice processing by-product recognized to be a source of bioactive compounds, including γ-oryzanol and fatty acids, which have interesting bioactivities such as antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. This study aims to optimize the supercritical fluid extraction process for recovering these high-value compounds from rice bran with improved bioactivity. A Central Composite Face-Centered Design was employed to optimize the extraction process by varying the temperature (40–80 °C) and pressure (200–500 bar). The optimal extraction conditions were identified at 500 bar and 62 °C that led to the extraction of 17.3% mass yield with 784.5 mg of fatty acids and 36.6 mg of γ-oryzanol per gram of extract, striking a balance between extraction yield and bioactive concentrations. When compared with conventional extractions with n-hexane, supercritical fluid extraction showed similar global yield (18.0 vs. 17.3%) and FA concentration (130.14 vs. 135.70 mg/g of RB) but higher selectivity and extraction yield for γ-oryzanol (18.0 vs. 36.4 mg/g extract; 3.3 vs. 6.3 mg/g of RB). Cellular antioxidant activity assays showed that both extracts reduced the quantity of reactive oxygen species (ROS) up to 50% in Caco-2 cells submitted to oxidative stress. Importantly, supercritical fluid extract was more effective in inhibiting colorectal cancer cell growth (EC50 = 0.9 mg/mL vs. 1.15 mg/mL) than the hexane extract, and this effect was more pronounced than that obtained for pure γ-oryzanol in the same concentration range. These findings highlight the potential of supercritical fluid technology to develop rice bran extracts with antioxidant and antiproliferative properties, underlining the promising applications of this technology in the field of natural product extraction.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/2/206rice bran oilsupercritical CO<sub>2</sub>green extractionantioxidant activityantiproliferative effect
spellingShingle João P. Baixinho
Martim Cardeira
Andreia Bento-Silva
Ana Maria Carvalho Partidário
Ana Teresa Serra
Maria do Rosário Bronze
Naiara Fernández
Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
Antioxidants
rice bran oil
supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>
green extraction
antioxidant activity
antiproliferative effect
title Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
title_full Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
title_fullStr Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
title_full_unstemmed Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
title_short Optimization of Supercritical Fluid Extraction for the Recovery of γ-Oryzanol-Rich Extracts with Improved Bioactivity from Rice Bran
title_sort optimization of supercritical fluid extraction for the recovery of γ oryzanol rich extracts with improved bioactivity from rice bran
topic rice bran oil
supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>
green extraction
antioxidant activity
antiproliferative effect
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3921/14/2/206
work_keys_str_mv AT joaopbaixinho optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT martimcardeira optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT andreiabentosilva optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT anamariacarvalhopartidario optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT anateresaserra optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT mariadorosariobronze optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran
AT naiarafernandez optimizationofsupercriticalfluidextractionfortherecoveryofgoryzanolrichextractswithimprovedbioactivityfromricebran