Desenvolvimento de uma nova rota de extração de compostos bioativos das sementes de urucum (Bixa Orellana L.)

Abstract

Annatto seeds (Bixa orellana L.) are rich in pigmentary bioactive compounds such as bixin, geranylgeraniol, tocotrienols and phenolic compounds, with applications in industry and health. Various solvents have been used for extraction and quantification of annatto compounds, but no systematic study of compound-solvent interactions and their impact on extraction and quantification with different polar and nonpolar solvents has been reported. The use of solvents was proposed because it is a faster, cheaper and safer alternative process. Given the above, the objective of the research was to develop a new route for extracting bioactive compounds from annatto seeds (Bixa orellana L.) with polar and non-polar solvents. The extraction of bioactive compounds was carried out under reflux (Soxhlet system) using water, hexane (P.A), chloroform (P.A) and ethyl alcohol (P.A) as solvents. In order to analyze the feasibility of the methodology developed, we compared it with the method used in the literature. The compounds obtained were characterized by UVVis, FTIR, TG/dTG, DSC and SEM techniques. Residual seeds (with treatment), fresh seeds (without treatment) and ash were analyzed by XRF. In the water extraction stage, the material obtained presented a dark color, when dissolved its tone became yellowish, has a hygroscopic appearance and a sweet aroma, with hexane two phases with oily characteristics were observed, a less dense one with a red color and another with a orange color, in the extraction stage with chloroform and alcohol, bixin was found, a violet-colored material with intermediate polarity that dissolves in chloroform and alcohol. The bioactive compounds extraction route carried out was economically viable, fast, safe and satisfactory from the point of view of the extracted products for a possible application.