Antioxidant and Anti-fatigue Activities of Seeds Oil of Ribes stenocarpum Maxim. from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Area of Science:

• Natural Product Chemistry
• Food Science and Technology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Ribes stenocarpum Maxim. seeds are a potential source of valuable bioactive compounds.
• Optimization of extraction processes is crucial for maximizing yield and preserving compound integrity.
• Understanding the biochemical profile and biological activities of seed oils is essential for their application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To optimize the supercritical CO2 extraction of oil from Ribes stenocarpum Maxim. seeds.
• To analyze the chemical composition of the extracted seed oil (RSO).
• To evaluate the antioxidant and anti-fatigue potential of RSO.

Main Methods:

• Response surface methodology was employed to optimize supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) extraction parameters (temperature, time, pressure, CO2 flow rate).
• Gas chromatography (GC) was used to determine the fatty acid profile of RSO.
• In vitro antioxidant assays (hydroxyl radical scavenging) and in vivo anti-fatigue tests in mice were conducted.

Main Results:

• Optimal SC-CO2 extraction yielded 23.59% oil under specific conditions (38.0°C, 180 min, 32.0 MPa, 5.0 mL/min CO2 flow rate).
• RSO contained 85.08% unsaturated fatty acids and exhibited potent hydroxyl radical scavenging activity (90% at 0.9%).
• RSO significantly improved anti-fatigue markers in mice, including prolonged swimming time and modulated levels of biochemical indicators.

Conclusions:

• Supercritical CO2 extraction is an effective method for obtaining high-yield oil from Ribes stenocarpum Maxim. seeds.
• RSO possesses significant antioxidant and anti-fatigue properties, attributed to its high unsaturated fatty acid content.
• RSO shows potential for use as a functional ingredient to enhance antioxidant capacity and combat fatigue.