Optimisation of Microwave-Assisted Extraction of Squalene from Amaranthus spp. Seeds

Abstract

Squalene is a triterpene of pharmaceutical interest, due to its antioxidant and anticancer properties. Amaranth oil is a source of plant origin with high squalene content which is extracted by conventional methods that involve high cost, time-consuming and create large amounts of waste by-products or CO₂ emissions. In this study, the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) was used to obtain amaranth oil rich in squalene under closed conditions. The optimization of squalene yield (SQ) was conducted using response surface methodology by a Box-Behnken design (BBD) with 3³ factors: time (20, 25, 30 min), solvent–co-solvent (50:50, 60:40, 70:30 v/v) and temperature (40, 60, 80 °C). The effect of factors on yield was measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry followed by a comparison of the yield and chemical composition than those obtained by Soxhlet extraction (n-hexane during 6 h). Optimal conditions produced a squalene yield of 16,456 mg·100g⁻¹ oil versus 7,967 mg·100g⁻¹ oil for conventional extraction. The ratio solvent and heating time significantly affected the yield, but the chemical composition and quality of extract were not affected, there were no oxidation products derived from the heat treatment. MAE has proven to be an environmental-friendly option with a significant reduction in time, energy and avoids solvent consumption.

Keywords:

• Triterpene
• lipid
• pseudo-cereal
• Box-Behnken
• natural antioxidant
• anticarcinogenic agent

Disclosure statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the CONACyT under scholarship to Maria A. Lozano-Grande and the Institute Polytechnic National (IPN) by the financial support project (20196719).

Notes on contributors

María A. Lozano-Grande

María A. Lozano-Grande received the master's Degree in Agri-Food Science and Technology from Chapingo Autonomous University, Mexico in 2013. PhD candidate in Biotic Products Development from CEPROBI-IPN, México. Researcher with interested in the processing and extraction of bioactive and nutraceutical compounds from plants.

Gloria Dávila-Ortiz

Gloria Dávila-Ortiz obtained PhD in Biochemical Engineering at the National School of Biological Sciences in National Polytechnic Institute (ENCB-IPN), Mexico (1971). She did a post-doc at the Davis California University (1989). Currently is an expertise researcher in Agricultural Plant Science and Food Science for identification of proteins, peptides and compounds with biological activity in plant resources.

Jorge García-Dávila

Jorge García-Dávila Ph.D. in Biotechnology from Applied Biotechnology Research Center (CIBAA-IPN), México in 2015. Received Master's Degree in Chemistry from the University of Tlaxcala, México in 2011. He is full-time professor in the Biotechnology Engineering Department into Polytechnic University of Tlaxcala (UPTx) specialist in the synthesis of biofuels by catalytic hydroconversion processes and characterization of metabolites and natural extracts by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectroscopy.

Gabriel Ríos-Cortés

Gabriel Ríos-Cortés Master of Science in Chemical Engineering from the Technological Institute of Orizaba in 2008, Ph.D. candidate from the Technological Institute of Veracruz. Full-time professor in the chemical engineering department of the Technological Institute of Orizaba, head of the environmental engineering laboratory. His interest in research is the biocatalysts and application of green technologies in reaction systems and extractive processes.

Eduardo Espitia-Rangel

Eduardo Espitia-Rangel Ph. D. in plant breeding from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 1997. Currently plant breeder and curator of genetic resources of grain amaranth, quinua, wheat and oats at the National Institute for Forestry, Agriculture and Animal research.

Alma L. Martínez-Ayala

Alma L. Martínez-Ayala received her Master's Degree in Food Science and Technology from Insituto Politecnico Nacional (Mexico) in 1989 and her Doctor Degree in Plant Biotechnology from CINVESTAV-IPN (Mexico) in 2002. She is a full-time professor of Biotechnology in CEPROBI-IPN. Her current research interests are focused on the study and use of biomolecules.