Comparative Profiling of Volatile Compounds and Fatty Acids in Pomegranate Seed Oil: Soxhlet vs. CO2/IPA Extraction for Quality and Circular Bioeconomy Goals

Caterina Fraschetti; Antonello Filippi; Antonia Iazzetti; Giancarlo Fabrizi; Francesco Cairone; Stefania Cesa

doi:10.3390/foods14172951

Comparative Profiling of Volatile Compounds and Fatty Acids in Pomegranate Seed Oil: Soxhlet vs. CO₂/IPA Extraction for Quality and Circular Bioeconomy Goals

Foods. 2025 Aug 25;14(17):2951. doi: 10.3390/foods14172951.

Authors

Caterina Fraschetti¹, Antonello Filippi¹, Antonia Iazzetti², Giancarlo Fabrizi¹, Francesco Cairone¹, Stefania Cesa¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Chemistry and Technologies of Drug, University "La Sapienza" of Rome, P.le Aldo Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy.
² Department of Basic Biotechnological Sciences, Intensivological and Perioperative Clinics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, L.go F. Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy.

Abstract

This study compares the chemical profiles of pomegranate seed oil (PSO) from two cultivars, Granato (G) and Roce (R), extracted by Soxhlet and supercritical CO₂/isopropanol. GC-MS and NMR analyses confirmed punicic acid as the dominant fatty acid, with α-eleostearic, oleic, and linoleic acids in lower amounts. Supercritical extraction increased yield (about 18%) and selectively raised α-eleostearic and linoleic acids. Volatile organic compound (VOC) profiling by HS-SPME-GC-MS showed higher aldehydes, esters, and terpenes in supercritical extracts, including (E)-cinnamaldehyde (absent in Soxhlet). Soxhlet oils contained more hydrocarbons, suggesting thermal degradation. Overall, supercritical CO₂/IPA proved more sustainable and selective, preserving nutritional and aromatic quality and supporting PSO's potential in food, nutraceutical, and cosmetic uses.

Keywords: HS-SPME-GC-MS; NMR; pomegranate seed oil; punicic acid; supercritical CO2 extraction; unsaturated fatty acids.