Composition, thermal behavior and antioxidant activity of pracaxi (Pentaclethra macroloba) seed oil obtained by supercritical CO2

Abstract The Amazonian tree Pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) has pod-shaped fruits with flattened seeds mostly composed of lipids, carbohydrates, and proteins, besides secondary compounds, which provide potential use by many industries. This study evaluated the supercritical carbon dioxide (SC–CO2) extraction of pracaxi seed oil (PSO) at different conditions of pressure (200–300 bar) and temperature (40–60 °C). The PSO was assessed for its fatty acids and triacylglycerols (TAG) compositions, total phenolic content and antioxidant activity, as well as the oxidative stability and thermal behavior. SC-CO2 extractions provided oil yields (Ye) from 12 to 42 g/100 g, which represented up to 79% of the Ye obtained with hexane (Soxhlet). The pressure was the only significant variable (p