• Journal of Life Science
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• v.13 no.5
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• pp.569-575
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• 2003

Supercritical $CO_2$ extraction was applied to extraction of the valuable compound for benign prostatic hyperplasia from saw palmitto. Three levels of parameters, temperature $(35^{\circ}C,\; 60^<\circ}C)$, pressure 22∼30 Mpa and ethanol modified solvent concentration, were used as the independent variables of central composite to rotate the design. The extracting pressure and temperature interaction was significantly affected the extraction of valuable compounds. The ethanol was an efficient modifier to extract valuable compound by supercritical carbon dioxide. The optimal processing conditions were extracting pressure, 30 Mpa, extracting temperature, $60^<\circ}C$, ethanol modifier, 15% for extracts of the valuable compounds from saw palmitto. In conclusion, it was found that supercritical $CO_2$ extraction can successfully be applied to extract high quality extracts from saw palmitto.