Fatty Acid Profile, Phytochemical Composition and Antimicrobial Effect of Supercritical CO₂ Extracts of Papaver somniferum L. Seeds

The demand for natural bioactive compounds has increased interest in plant-derived oils obtained through green extraction techniques. Papaver somniferum L. seed oil is a promising source of fatty acids and phytochemicals with potential biological activities. This study aimed to evaluate the fatty acid composition, phytochemical content, and antimicrobial activity of P. somniferum seed oil obtained by supercritical CO₂ extraction. Oil extraction was performed under optimized conditions (36.75 MPa, 47 °C, CO₂ flow rate: 1 L min⁻¹). Fatty acid composition was analyzed by gas chromatography, while total phenolic and flavonoid contents were determined spectrophotometrically. Antimicrobial activity was assessed using the broth microdilution method against selected Gram-positive,Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast strains.The extraction yielded approximately 20% oil. The fatty acid profile was dominated by polyunsaturated fatty acids, with linoleic acid as the major component, followed by oleic and palmitic acids. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were 73.70 mg GAE g⁻¹ extract and 21.42 mg QE g⁻¹ extract, respectively. The oil exhibited the strongest antimicrobial activity against Bacillus cereus (MIC: 0.375 mg mL⁻¹) and Candida albicans (MIC: 0.75 mg mL⁻¹), while Gram-negative bacteria were less sensitive. The findings indicate that P. somniferum seed oil possesses significant bioactive potential, likely due to synergistic interactions between fatty acids and phenolic compounds. Supercritical CO₂ extraction is an effective and environmentally friendly method for obtaining high-quality oil with promising applications in food and pharmaceutical industries.