Fatty acid profile and biological activity of supercritical fluid extract of <i>Rosa canina L.</i> seeds

The study concerns the extraction by supercritical carbon dioxide, from the seeds of <i>Rosa canina</i> L. Extraction experiments were carried out at a pressure of 300 bar and a temperature of 40 °C, SFE[300:40]. Analyses by GC-FID and HPLC-DAD of the extract showed elevated levels of linoleic acid, 18:2 n-6 (54.7%) and linolenic acid 18:3 n-3 (19.8%). The sample SFE[300:40] was compared with that obtained using <i>n</i>-hexane in a Soxhlet apparatus, (Sx). The antioxidant properties determined by the ABTS test, showed that SFE[300:40] and Sx had EC50 = (0.34 ± 0.01) mg/mL, and no activity, respectively. The total phenolic content, expressed as the concentration of Gallic Acid Equivalents (GAE), in the SFE[300:40] was (16 ± 2 mg/g) and a concentration below the detection limit of the method for the Sx sample. The inhibition percentages against xanthine oxidase were 5% for SFE[300:40] and 12% for Sx extract.