Bixa orellana LIPIDS AS A SOURCE OF GERANYLGERANIOL: EXTRACTION TECHNIQUES AND CHARACTERIZATION

Bixa orellana L., known as annatto, is a plant in the Bixaceae family, widely used for its seeds rich in carotenoids, such as bixin (a natural dye) and geranylgeraniol (GGOH), an isoprenoid of interest for health and agriculture. This study evaluated the efficiency of annatto oil extraction using hydrodistillation, Soxhlet solvent extraction (conventional methods), and ultrasound-assisted extraction (modern method). Acetone, ethyl acetate, and hexane were used as extractor solvents. Gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization detection (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed GGOH as the main compound in all methods, with concentration variations determined using 1-octadecanol as an external standard. Hydrodistillation showed the lowest yield (0.06%) but was more straightforward and sustainable. Extraction with organic solvents (Soxhlet and ultrasound) resulted in higher GGOH yields (1.35-2.01%), with hexane being the most efficient (0.250 mg mL–1). Soxhlet extraction with hexane is ideal for large quantities, while hydrodistillation is preferable for medicinal uses due to the absence of organic solvents.