Methods for extraction of biologically active substances from Amaranth

Amaranth is an ancient culture widely used in America, prized for its nutritional properties and ancient religious significance. The article provides an overview of methods for the extraction of biologically active substances from amaranth seeds. Extraction of squalene, a powerful natural antioxidant, from A. hypochondriacus seeds was performed by supercritical fluid extraction (SCFE); and, for comparison, extraction was also performed by the Soxhlet method using organic solvents (hexane). The proximal chemical composition and morphology of the seeds were determined in raw, swollen and SCFE extracted seeds. The extracts were obtained using an industrial supercritical extractor with a capacity of 500 ml and were carried out at a pressure from 10 to 30 MPa at 313, 323 and 333 K with a constant CO2 flow of 0.18 kg CO2 / h for 8 hours. The squalene content was determined and the fatty acids present in the extracts were identified by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The extract obtained by the SCFE method from puffed amaranth seeds reached 460±28.1 g/kg squalene in the oil extract at 313 K / 20 MPa.