Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance

This study investigates the sequential extraction of lipids and saponins from <i>C. frondosa</i> viscera. Lipids were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the presence of ethanol (EtOH) as a co-solvent. Subsequently, the lipid-extracted viscera u...

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Main Authors: Jianan Lin, Guangling Jiao, Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-06-01
Series:Marine Drugs
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/272
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author Jianan Lin
Guangling Jiao
Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour
author_facet Jianan Lin
Guangling Jiao
Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour
author_sort Jianan Lin
collection DOAJ
description This study investigates the sequential extraction of lipids and saponins from <i>C. frondosa</i> viscera. Lipids were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the presence of ethanol (EtOH) as a co-solvent. Subsequently, the lipid-extracted viscera underwent three saponin extraction approaches, scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub>, scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH, and scCO<sub>2</sub>-hot water, resulting in saponin-rich extracts. Process parameter investigation for saponin extraction from scCO<sub>2</sub>-defatted viscera revealed minimal effects of temperature, pressure, extraction time, static extraction, and EtOH concentration on saponin yields, allowing for milder operational conditions (35 °C, 20 MPa, 30 min dynamic extraction, 75% EtOH at 0.5 mL/min) to achieve energy-efficient recovery. Continuous EtOH feeding predominates the scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of saponins. The sequential scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid and saponins yielded saponins at 9.13 mg OAE/g, while scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid followed by a 24 h 70% EtOH extraction of saponins achieved 16.26 mg OAE/g, closely matching the optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction of saponins (17.31 mg OAE/g) from hexane-defatted samples. Antioxidant activities of saponin-rich extracts obtained in the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH extraction (17.12 ± 4.20% DPPH scavenging) and the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction (16.14 ± 1.98%) were comparable to BHT (20.39 ± 0.68%), surpassing that of hexane-defatted ultrasonic extracts (8.11 ± 1.16%). The optimized scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH method offers a sustainable alternative, eliminating toxic solvents while maintaining high saponin yields and bioactivity.
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spelling doaj-art-c432297daf244b509f89bfce0b51beda2025-08-20T03:32:27ZengMDPI AGMarine Drugs1660-33972025-06-0123727210.3390/md23070272Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant PerformanceJianan Lin0Guangling Jiao1Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour2Biorefining and Remediation Laboratory, Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6, CanadaAKSO Marine Biotech Inc., Hacketts Cove, NS B3Z 3K7, CanadaBiorefining and Remediation Laboratory, Department of Process Engineering and Applied Science, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3J 1B6, CanadaThis study investigates the sequential extraction of lipids and saponins from <i>C. frondosa</i> viscera. Lipids were extracted using supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO<sub>2</sub>) in the presence of ethanol (EtOH) as a co-solvent. Subsequently, the lipid-extracted viscera underwent three saponin extraction approaches, scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub>, scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH, and scCO<sub>2</sub>-hot water, resulting in saponin-rich extracts. Process parameter investigation for saponin extraction from scCO<sub>2</sub>-defatted viscera revealed minimal effects of temperature, pressure, extraction time, static extraction, and EtOH concentration on saponin yields, allowing for milder operational conditions (35 °C, 20 MPa, 30 min dynamic extraction, 75% EtOH at 0.5 mL/min) to achieve energy-efficient recovery. Continuous EtOH feeding predominates the scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of saponins. The sequential scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid and saponins yielded saponins at 9.13 mg OAE/g, while scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction of lipid followed by a 24 h 70% EtOH extraction of saponins achieved 16.26 mg OAE/g, closely matching the optimized ultrasonic-assisted extraction of saponins (17.31 mg OAE/g) from hexane-defatted samples. Antioxidant activities of saponin-rich extracts obtained in the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH extraction (17.12 ± 4.20% DPPH scavenging) and the sequential scCO<sub>2</sub>-scCO<sub>2</sub> extraction (16.14 ± 1.98%) were comparable to BHT (20.39 ± 0.68%), surpassing that of hexane-defatted ultrasonic extracts (8.11 ± 1.16%). The optimized scCO<sub>2</sub>-EtOH method offers a sustainable alternative, eliminating toxic solvents while maintaining high saponin yields and bioactivity.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/272saponins<i>Cucumaria frondosa</i>by-productsbiomass valorizationgreen extractionscCO<sub>2</sub> technique
spellingShingle Jianan Lin
Guangling Jiao
Azadeh Kermanshahi-pour
Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
Marine Drugs
saponins
<i>Cucumaria frondosa</i>
by-products
biomass valorization
green extraction
scCO<sub>2</sub> technique
title Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
title_full Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
title_fullStr Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
title_full_unstemmed Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
title_short Sequential Extraction of Bioactive Saponins from <i>Cucumaria frondosa</i> Viscera: Supercritical CO<sub>2</sub>–Ethanol Synergy for Enhanced Yields and Antioxidant Performance
title_sort sequential extraction of bioactive saponins from i cucumaria frondosa i viscera supercritical co sub 2 sub ethanol synergy for enhanced yields and antioxidant performance
topic saponins
<i>Cucumaria frondosa</i>
by-products
biomass valorization
green extraction
scCO<sub>2</sub> technique
url https://www.mdpi.com/1660-3397/23/7/272
work_keys_str_mv AT jiananlin sequentialextractionofbioactivesaponinsfromicucumariafrondosaiviscerasupercriticalcosub2subethanolsynergyforenhancedyieldsandantioxidantperformance
AT guanglingjiao sequentialextractionofbioactivesaponinsfromicucumariafrondosaiviscerasupercriticalcosub2subethanolsynergyforenhancedyieldsandantioxidantperformance
AT azadehkermanshahipour sequentialextractionofbioactivesaponinsfromicucumariafrondosaiviscerasupercriticalcosub2subethanolsynergyforenhancedyieldsandantioxidantperformance