Process Optimization for Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction of Origanum vulgare L. Essential Oil Based on the Yield, Carvacrol, and Thymol Contents

Background Origanum vulgare L. essential oil (OEO) is widely known for its good biological activity, but different extraction methods with significant implications on the yield of OEO and the content of the thymol and carvacrol. As an efficient method for extracting essential oils (EO), the supercritical carbon dioxide extraction (SC-CO2) can improve the yield of EOs while protecting their main active components from loss. Objective In this study, the process optimization of SC-CO2 of OEO was carried out. The effects of extraction pressure, temperature, time, and modifier concentration on the composite score of OEO extraction process were investigated. Method Response surface analysis was performed using a Box-Behnken design with three levels and four independent variables. Steam distillation (SD) and lipophilic solvents (n-hexane) extraction (LSE) were compared with SC-CO2 for OEO yields. OEOs extracted by the three methods were qualitatively and semi-quantitatively analyzed by gas chromatography quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector. Results The results showed that extraction pressure was the most significant factor affecting the OEO yield, thymol, and carvacrol content. In the optimal conditions (pressure: 217 bar, temperature: 54 degrees C, time: 2 h, modifier concentration: 14%), the yield of OEO reached up to 1.136%, and the contents of thymol and carvacrol reached 53.172 and 41.785 mg/g, respectively. Conclusions SC-CO2 was the best extraction method compared to the other two methods. Under the optimal conditions, yield and the content of main components can be effectively improved. It can provide a theoretical basis for the industrial extraction of OEO.