SUPERCRITICAL EXTRACTION OF ESSENTIAL OILS, PIGMENTS AND NUTRACEUTICALS FROM HERBS, SPICES, AND MEDICINAL PLANTS

摘要

Brazil is large producer of condiments, aromatic herbs, roots and tropical fruits used by the food, the pharmaceutical, and the cosmetic industries. Some of these products are used locally, while others are exported. Among the exporting products can be mentioned black pepper, clove buds, ginger, etc. Essential oils and oleoresins of vetiver, eucalyptus, cinnamon, mint, and so on are exported. The country is also a large producer of stevia, a plant whose aqueous extract has being used for years as a sucrose substitute in special diets. Besides that, several other plants possess lipids, starch, and cellulose that can be potentially economically explored. Examples of these are turmeric, saffron, pupunha, bacuri, etc.