Chemical Composition, Antioxidant Activity, Anti-inflammatory and Neuroprotective Effect of Croton matourensis Aubl. Leaves Extracts Obtained by Supercritical CO2

Abstract Croton matourensis leaves extract was studied for its anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects after experimental stroke. The study investigated the extracts obtained with supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) under different operational conditions of temperature (40 and 50 °C) and pressure (100-400 bar), assessing their global yield isotherms, chemical composition and antioxidant activity, in comparison to extracts obtained by hydrodistillation (HD) and n-hexane (HE). The highest yields were obtained with SC-CO2 at 50 °C and 400 bar (5.60 ± 0.06%) and in the HE (5.73 ± 0.26%). The major compound found in HD and HE was linalool (35.26 and 69.98%, respectively), whereas in SC-CO2 extraction was larixol (24.88-50.57%). The extracts showed high total phenolic contents, total flavonoids and antioxidant activity with maximum percent inhibition of DPPH radical of 83.26 ± 0.58%. The treatment suggests a potential anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effect, showing reduction in the injury of the animals treated with the SC-CO2 extract.