Characterization and bioactivity of carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang by Supercritical Liquid CO2 Extraction

Abstract

Turan Akdag, Hatice Banu Keskinkaya, Zeliha Ustun Argon, Suleyman Dogu*, Merve Kocak, Erdogan Gunes

Since the beginning of the existence of humanity, plants have been basic resources of life. They play many important roles in nature, such as providing oxygen, medicine, fuel and environmental protection. Since modern medicine began to develop, biologically active compounds from plants have displayed a role as medicine in the fight against pain and disease. In addition to their benefits to human health, it is observed that the focus on phytochemicals is increasing day by day due to many reasons such as the increase in health expenditures, the increase in synthetic drug prices, and the low side effects. Supercritical extraction with CO2 is a technique of Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE) which is as a separative technology that uses supercritical liquid solvent for the extraction process. We aimed to determine characteristics of carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang) performed by Supercritical Liquid CO2 Extraction. Carrot (Daucus carota L. subsp. sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang) samples were obtained from the Konya region (central Turkey) and the samples were recorded in the Herbarium of Necmettin Erbakan University Department of Biology (S. Do?u 4048). Results were effected with different products of the plant such as the juice, essential oil and extract and these results are partly affected by the phytochemical differences in the structure of the plants. Since these findings are given for different extraction methods for carrots, our results can be an example of a different extraction technique and novel application. There are previous studies about carrots but those which have subjected carrots to a supercritical carbon dioxide extraction technique are very limited. Our results has some similarities to previous studies, which are referenced and described here, but we have new findings in our study. The results are compared with different plant materials and other extraction methods of carrots.