Omnibus profiling of supercritical fluid extracted oil from Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Rudraksha) seeds using sophisticated liquid and gas chromatographic platforms

Abstract

Elaeocarpus sphaericus (Rudraksha) seeds have long been regarded for the spiritual significance and the prominent role in ethno-medicinal practices. This study, for the first time, employed supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to obtain pure oil from E. sphaericus seeds, in order to effectively overcome the degradation of phytometabolites, and without any residual impurities, that could affect the quality of the extractive oil. On SFE, the maximum oil yield from E. sphaericus seeds (EsSO) was found to be 2.37 % (w/w). The composition of EsSO was evaluated on UPLC-MS/QToF, resulting in identification of phenolics, lignans, fatty acids, and peptide derivatives in EsSO. Liquid chromatographic platforms like HPTLC, and HPLC were used for the targeted quantification of selected phytometabolites; β-sitosterol, and vanillin, whereas GC-MS/MS technique was utilised for the quantification of squalene and fatty acids in EsSO. The analytical results were in contrast with the hexane extract of E. sphaericus seeds also. These findings reveal SFE as safe, eco-friendly, and efficient extraction method to obtain high quality oil from E. sphaericus seeds. Therefore, the current study suggested EsSO as a valuable source of integral phytometabolites and would open up new avenues, as the high-value ingredient in food, pharmaceutical, and cosmeceutical industries.