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

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