Concentrations of tocols and γ-oryzanol compounds in rice bran oil obtained by fractional extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide

J Oleo Sci. 2014;63(1):47-53. doi: 10.5650/jos.ess13144. Epub 2013 Dec 24.

Abstract

Rice bran oil (RBO) is a good source of several commercially important bioactive phytochemicals, such as tocols (i.e. tocopherols and tocotrienols) and ferulic esters of sterols (i.e. γ-oryzanol). The aims of the present study were to examine the effects of different pressure and temperature combinations on the fractional extraction of RBO using supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) and to assess the levels of tocols homologues and γ-oryzanol components in the resulting oil fractions. Fractional extraction of rice bran oil was performed using SC-CO2 at either 27.6 or 41.4 MPa and either 40 or 60°C. The effects of the four different pressure and temperature combinations on the levels of seven tocols homologues (α-, β-, γ- and δ-tocopherol and α-, γ- and δ-tocotrienol) and the four major components of γ-oryzanol in the resulting oil fractions were investigated. Superior extraction efficiency was obtained using the higher pressure of 41.4 MPa. The tocols (particularly α-tocopherol and α-tocotrienol) were recovered early in the extraction process, while the γ-oryzanol compounds were obtained in the later stages. With regard to SC-CO2 extraction, tocols are more soluble than γ-oryzanol components, α-tocopherol is the most soluble of the tocols and the four γ-oryzanol components all have similar solubilities. Valuable data on solubilities of tocols homologues in SC-CO2 were provided from present study.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Carbon Dioxide*
  • Chemical Fractionation / methods*
  • Phenylpropionates / analysis*
  • Phenylpropionates / isolation & purification
  • Plant Oils / chemistry*
  • Pressure
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Solubility
  • Temperature
  • Tocopherols / analysis*
  • Tocopherols / isolation & purification
  • Tocotrienols / analysis*
  • Tocotrienols / isolation & purification

Substances

  • Phenylpropionates
  • Plant Oils
  • Tocotrienols
  • Carbon Dioxide
  • Rice Bran Oil
  • Tocopherols
  • gamma-oryzanol