abstract
Macroalgae are a promising source of natural compounds like phytosterols, known for their cholesterol-lowering effects and other biological properties. However, they have often been challenging to extract efficiently due to a lack of sustainable extraction techniques. This study aimed to exploit eutectic solvents (ES) in the sustainable extraction of phytosterols. The conductor-like screening model for real solvents (COSMO-RS) was used as an initial screening tool to select the most suitable combination from a pool of 35 HBA and 64 HBD (2240 mixtures in total), thus reducing the number of experiments required. ES composed of terpenes, fatty acids, and some alcohols were found to be the most suitable solvents for phytosterols extraction. After validation using a standard mixture of sterols, the selected ES were successfully used to extract phytosterols from the macroalga Codium tomentosum. A maximum extraction yield of 3.16 +/- 0.01 mg phytosterols/g dry macroalgae weight was obtained with ES menthol:octanoic acid (Men:AcC8), which was further selected to perform a sequential extraction procedure, allowing to obtain an enriched extract with a 4.4-fold increase in the phytosterol content after four extraction cycles. Overall, this study provides a promising, sustainable, and environmentally friendly approach to obtain bioactive phytosterols enriched extracts from macroalgae.
keywords
AGARICUS-BISPORUS L.; ASSISTED EXTRACTION; MACROALGAE; OPTIMIZATION; PRODUCTS; BROWN
subject category
Chemistry; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Engineering
authors
Resende, J; Sosa, FHB; Coutinho, JAP; Rocha, J; Silvestre, AJD; Santos, SAO
our authors
Armando Jorge Domingues Silvestre
Full professor
Filipe Hobi Bordon Sosa
Junior Researcher
João Rocha
Full Professor
Judite Resende
PhD Student
Sónia Andreia Oliveira Santos
Assistant ProfessorGroups
G1 - Porous Materials and Nanosystems
G4 - Renewable Materials and Circular Economy
G5 - Biomimetic, Biological and Living Materials
Projects
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDB/50011/2020)
CICECO - Aveiro Institute of Materials (UIDP/50011/2020)
Associated Laboratory CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials (LA/P/0006/2020)
acknowledgements
This work was developed within the scope of the project CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, UIDB/50011/2020, UIDP/50011/2020 & LA/P/0006/2020, financed by national funds through the FCT/MCTES (PIDDAC). This work was also developed within the project (ALGREEN, 2022.04670.PTDC), financially supported by national funds (OE), through FCT/MCTES. Acknowledgments are also due to FCT/MCTES for the PhD grant to Judite Resende (SFRH/BD/08821/2020) and for the researcher contracts under the Scientific Employment Stimulus to Filipe H. B. Sosa (CEECIND/07209/2022) and to Sonia A. O. Santos (CEECIND/03348/2021).