Green extraction of oil from Carum carvi seeds using bio-based solvent and supercritical fluid: Evaluation of its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities

What if the secret to a healthier oil was hidden in a humble seed, extracted with nothing but nature's own tools? A new study shows that green solvents can unlock oil from caraway seeds with powerful health benefits.

Caraway seeds have long been a kitchen staple, but their oil is a treasure trove of bioactive compounds. Scientists are now ditching petroleum-based solvents for greener alternatives. In a recent study, researchers compared two eco-friendly methods—supercritical CO2 with ethanol and a bio-based solvent called 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF)—against conventional hexane and Folch systems.

Remarkably, MeTHF extraction yielded more oil than hexane, without sacrificing quality. The fatty acid profiles were nearly identical, with petroselinic acid dominating at 39–43%, followed by linoleic (29–31%) and oleic (19–21%) acids. But the green extracts went further: they were richer in sterols (5.4–7.3 mg/g oil) and polyphenols (7.6–9.3 mg GAE/g oil), which correlated with enhanced antioxidant activity.

Both green oils also showed impressive anti-inflammatory effects, inhibiting nitric oxide production in macrophages with IC50 values of 28 and 24 μg/mL. These results suggest that green solvents are not just eco-friendly—they may be superior for recovering health-promoting oil from caraway seeds.

Key Points

• MeTHF yields more oil than hexane
• Green oils rich in sterols and polyphenols
• Anti-inflammatory IC50: 28 and 24 μg/mL