Extraction and purification of oil bodies from pomegranate seeds

In the present study, response surface methodology employed to optimize aqueous extraction conditions of oil bodies from pomegranate seeds. Additional studies conducted to increase the extraction yield and purification of oil bodies. The optimum conditions for the isolation were particle size lower than 1.6 mm, hydration duration of 48 hr, homogenization speed of 14,000 rpm, and hydration duration of 4.8 min. These conditions provided 46.30% of extraction yield, 38.1% of oil content, 15.6% of protein content, and 28.7% of impurities content. The addition of sucrose to the homogenization medium and application of two cycles of homogenization and filtration provided 99% of the extraction of oil in the pomegranate seeds. Water washing, urea washing, and ultrafiltration compared in the purification of the oil bodies. Among the tested methods, while urea washing provided the lowest content of protein, ultrafiltrated oil bodies had the highest oil content and the lowest impurities content. Practical applications Oil bodies are triglycerides storing organelles of seeds and nuts. They can be extracted with aqueous extraction method and extraction conditions had significant effect on chemical and physical properties of oil bodies. However, only a few studies on the effect of extraction conditions of oil bodies was found in the literature. Therefore, optimization of the extraction conditions was carried out in the present study. Additionally, effect of different purification conditions on chemical properties was determined.