The optimization of direct enrichment of soybean oil with myrtle seed bioactive compounds using ultrasonic assisted extraction

This study aimed to optimize Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction (UAE) parameters to enrich soybean oil with Myrtus communis L. (myrtle) seeds powder. The effect of the temperature and sonication time on antioxidant contents, namely total phenolics, total carotenoids, total chlorophylls and also on the antioxidant capacity was studied. The resulted optimized conditions were a temperature of 30 degrees C during 32.5 min and through their use, the experimental values for total phenolics, carotenoids, and chlorophylls were 103.09 +/- 7.22, 1.96 +/- 0.90 and, 1.88 +/- 3.97 mg/kg oil, respectively. These values were very close to the predicted ones, which were 94.45 +/- 10.13, 1.52 +/- 0.12, and 1.57 +/- 0.84 mg/kg oil, respectively. The results of the antioxidant capacity of the oil extracts indicated that the enriched oil using UAE appeared to be more potent than the control. Hence, myrtle seeds presented high amounts of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity and were appropriate for soybean oil enrichment by UAE.