Screening of bioactive compounds of Pleurotus sajor-caju extracted using supercritical CO2 fluid extraction technique

Abstract

Pleurotus species have been explored for untapped metabolites that have applications for developing new life-saving drugs. The screening, extraction, and production of the bioactive compounds using appropriate techniques are still a challenge. Various novel techniques, viz., ultrasound and microwave assisted, supercritical fluid, and accelerated solvent methods for the extraction of nutraceutical compounds/elements, have been evolved to shorten the extraction time, minimize the solvent utilization, escalate the extraction yield, and enhance the trait and number of compounds present. Current study was an attempt to compare the supercritical CO2 extraction technique with the conventional extraction method for obtaining important bioactive compounds from the Pleurotus sajor-caju fruit bodies. The mushroom fruit body extracts were examined for the yield and their chemical composition using GC-MS. It was observed that although the yield obtained with the supercritical extraction was found to be less (0.8%) as compared to the methanolic ones (1.86%), the number of compounds identified were more in the same. The major chemical groups identified were fatty acid esters, fatty acids, ergosterol, terpenoids (triterpenes and diterpenes), alcohols, and phytols. The present study indicated that the extract obtained with supercritical method, although gave low yield, produced quality extract with more number of organic compounds superior over extract obtained by conventional extraction method and could be successfully used in pharmaceutical applications.