ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Pressurized extraction from red and purple pitanga’s varieties leaves: a source of α-bisabolol

Simone Braga da Silva, Gracielle Johann, Fernando Palú, Marcia Regina Fagundes-Klen, Lúcio Cardozo-Filho, and Edson Antonio da Silva

Western State University of Paraná, Toledo, Brazil

E-mail: grajohann@gmail.com

Received: 29 July 2025  Accepted: 22 September 2025

Abstract:

Tree leaves could be a source of α-bisabolol, a sesquiterpene alcohol with broad application in the fine chemistry industry, mainly for encapsulating water-insoluble compounds. This study evaluated the presence of α-bisabolol in extracts from pitanga leaves of the red and purple varieties. The extracts were obtained using traditional extraction techniques (Soxhlet and hydrodistillation) and pressurized extraction with SC-CO₂ (under 50 and 60 °C; 150 and 250 bar) and pressurized n-propane (under 30, 45, and 60 °C; and 40, 60, and 80 bar), under constant flow rate (3 and 5 cm³ min⁻¹, respectively), followed by an adsorption step on three different solid phases (alumina, Amberlit®, and silica). The oil yield of the red and purple varieties followed the descending order in the Soxhlet (5.44 and 5.70%) > SC-CO₂ (1.74 and 1.48%) > pressurized n-propane (1.39 and 0.94%) > and hydrodistillation (0.22 and 0.18%). Although less expressive, the extract obtained with pressurized n-propane required milder operating conditions, which were more suitable for the evaluated conditions. The fractionation columns with stationary phases were not selective in purifying α-bisabolol. Sovová's mathematical model adequately fitted oil extraction kinetics for both solvents (average R² of 0.997 for SC-CO₂ and 0.955 for pressurized n-propane). The results showed that all the oils obtained from red and purple varieties of pitanga leaves using pressurized extractions presented the compound α-bisabolol, which had not been reported in the literature. These extracts are an alternative for adding value to the fruit waste.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Eugenia uniflora Linn; Levomenol; Oil yield; Modeling; Purification

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04403-y

Chemical Papers 80 (1) 449–460 (2026)