Potential of Supercritical Acrocomia aculeata Oil and Its Technology Trends

Abstract

This study discusses the bioactive composition, supercritical extraction, and biological activity of Acrocomia aculeata in publications in the last ten years. Numerous compounds have been identified in A. aculeata, which include fatty acids, carotenoids, phenolic compounds, and tocopherols, discussed in this article. Although there are several studies with the fruit using conventional extraction to obtain oil, there are only a few involving extraction at high pressures. Therefore, this article emphasized the potential of extraction with supercritical fluid (SFC) to obtain oil due to its good selectivity, fractions distributed in terms of mass yield, and chemical composition of the obtained extracts, which provides a solvent-free product, making it safe for application in the food industry. The biological activity of A. aculeata extracts was also discussed, including antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, diuretic, antimicrobial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, and photoprotective effects, which can produce effects on human health. This review produces important results that can act as a basis for future studies related to obtaining bioactive compounds from A. aculeata with a high degree of purity and good quality in its applications.