Optimization of Supercritical CO2 Extraction Conditions and Metabolite Composition of Chamaepericlymenum suecicum L. Berries from Two Locations in the Magadan Region

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using CO2 has many advantages for recovering bioactive compounds, such as high selectivity, minimal solvent use and preservation of thermolabile metabolites. This study optimized SFE for extracting Chamaepericlymenum suecicum (Eurasian dwarf cornel) berries and compared the metabolite profiles of samples from two locations in the Magadan region: Magadan and Ola. The extraction process was conducted at temperatures ranging from 100 to 400 °C and pressures ranging from 31 to 70 MPa, using 1% ethanol as a co-solvent. Global yield ranged from 2.60 to 8.45 mg/100 mg, with the highest yield (8.45 mg/100 mg) obtained at 250 bar and 55 °C. Two-way ANOVA revealed that temperature, pressure, and their interaction significantly influenced the extraction yield (p < 0.001). A total of 47 compounds were identified by HPLC-ion trap-MS/MS, including 33 polyphenolic compounds (flavones, flavonols, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, phenolic acids, coumarins, and lignans), as well as 14 other metabolites (including fatty acids, oxylipins, alkaloids, organic acids, sugars, naphthoquinones, and anabolic steroids). The metabolite profiles differed between the two locations: Magadan samples contained 26 unique polyphenolic compounds, while Ola samples were characterized by the presence of flavan-3-ols, which were absent in Magadan samples. Only nine compounds were shared between the two locations. The number of compounds ranged from 8 to 24, and the Shannon diversity index was higher in the Magadan samples (H′ = 3.178 and 2.303) than in the Ola samples (H′ = 2.079 and 2.398). These findings demonstrate that supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) combined with metabolomic analysis is a powerful tool for profiling C. suecicum berries, revealing significant geographic variation in their chemical composition and highlighting their potential as a source of bioactive compounds for functional foods and pharmaceutical applications.