Study of the effect of supercritical extraction parameters of Peganum harmala seed oil on Candida albicans 570

The present study was concerned with the evaluation of the effect of supercritical extracts obtained from Peganum harmala seeds, on Candida albicans 570. Furthermore, the total antioxidant activity of the plant extracts was assessed using the 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). The results showed antibacterial as well as maximum inhibitory activities (14.5) in the extracts obtained at 45°C, 200 bar and 0.7 mm for temperature, pressure and particle size, respectively. The study proved that the operating conditions for the supercritical extraction process had an effect on the extraction of active compounds, whereas there was a complete absence or a variable effect on the considered bacteria with the same plant, according to the different adopted operating conditions. Finally the effect of operating parameters like pressure (100-300 bar), temperature (35-55 °C), particle size (0.5-0.9 mm) at a fixed supercritical CO2 flow rate, on the bioactive compounds, was also investigated.