Entrainer-assisted supercritical fluid extraction removing the phthalate plasticizers from Ganoderma Lucidum spores oil

Ganoderma lucidum (G. lucidum) spore oil, an important health supplement, has been found to frequently contain the excessive levels of phthalate plasticizers (PAEs), which may cause the safety and quality risks. This study used supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with 95 % ethanol as the entrainer, added at ratios of 0 % to 25 % of the spore powder mass, to investigate the effects of different extraction stages and entrainer on the reduces of PAEs content, physicochemical properties, and active components. Results showed that the acid value, ergosterol content, and PAEs content of the spore oil in the first stage were significantly higher than those in subsequent stages. Peroxide values were increased but remained below 0.22 g/100 g, while the total triterpene content fluctuated. The main fatty acids were oleic, palmitic, linoleic, and stearic acids. At a 10 % entrainer ratio, the extraction yield increased to 32.30 ± 0.60 %, with the highest ergosterol content, the lowest DINP content, and achieved a 40.73 % reduction in PAEs content. This ratio did not affect the fatty acid composition, indicating it enhanced the oil yield and reduced PAEs without impacting the physicochemical properties and active ingredients. Therefore, the optimal entrainer ratio was determined to be 10 %, crucial for improving G. lucidum spore oil quality and safety in industrial production.