Generation of potent antioxidant nanoparticles from mango leaves by supercritical antisolvent extraction

Abstract The objective of this work was the obtaining of nanoparticles with potent antioxidant activity by supercritical antisolvent extraction process (SAE) using different methods of antioxidants extraction: subcritical fluid extraction (SFE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) and enhanced solvent extraction (ESE) with different operating conditions. The employed conditions in SAE process were 20 mg/mL of the extract concentration, 150 bar of pressure and temperatures of 35 and 50 °C into the vessel, extract flow rate of 5 mL/min and supercritical CO 2 (scCO 2 ) flow rate of 30 g CO 2 /min. The quantification of polyphenols of mango leaves was determined by HPLC and the antioxidant activity was measured by DPPH. Spherical nano- and microparticles with diameters in the range of 0.01–1.34 μm were obtained with much stronger antioxidant activity than the extracts (SFE, PLE, ESE). The major compound found in the extracts and the SAE precipitates was iriflophenone 3-C-β- d -glucoside.