Abstract

Isolation of volatile and fixed oils from Apium graveolens seeds have been obtained by supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with carbon dioxide. The first extraction step (90 bar, 40°C) produced a volatile fraction (yield of 1.5% by weight of the charge) mainly formed by sedanolide, neocnidilide, b-selinene and 3-buthyl phtalide. The second extraction step (250 bar, 40°C) produced a fixed oil and the yield of this step was 3.4% by weight. The most represented fatty acids of fixed oil were petroselinic, linoleic, palmitic and oleic acid. Acute gastric ulcer was induced using HCl/ethanol. The volume, pH and total acidity of gastric secretion were determined by the pyloric ligature method. Treated groups received the essential oil of seeds isolated by supercritical CO₂ and hydrodistillation at doses (100, 200 and 300 mg/kg). The reference group (Omeprazole, 30 mg/kg) and control group (9% NaCl). Oral administration of essential oil of A. graveolens seeds inhibited HCl/ethanol ulcers by 59, 93 and 98%, respectively, to SFE essential oil and 72, 77 and 91%, respectively, to HD essential oil which was similar to that induced by omeprazole (71%). In the case of pylorus ligature, the essential oil reduced the volume of gastric juices and total acidity, and increased gastric pH.

Key words: Apium graveolens, essential oil, fixed oil, fatty acids, antiulcerogenic activity, supercritical extraction, carbon dioxide.