Phytosterols provide important health benefits: in particular, the lowering of cholesterol. From environmental and commercial points of view, the most appropriate technique has been searched for extracting phytosterols from plant matrices. As a green technology, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) using carbon dioxide (CO2) is widely used to extract bioactive compounds from different plant matrices. Several studies have been performed to extract phytosterols using supercritical CO2 (SC-CO2) and this technology has clearly offered potential advantages over conventional extraction methods. However, the efficiency of SFE technology fully relies on the processing parameters, chemistry of interest compounds, nature of the plant matrices and expertise of handling. This review covers SFE technology with particular reference to phytosterol extraction using SC-CO2. Moreover, the chemistry of phytosterols, properties of supercritical fluids (SFs) and the applied experimental designs have been discussed for better understanding of phytosterol solubility in SC-CO2.

This article has been accepted for publication and undergone full peer review but has not been through the copyediting, typesetting, pagination and proofreading process, which may lead to differences between this version and the Version of Record. Please cite this article as doi: 10.1002/jctb.4603This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved AbstractRecent technological advances and the development of new methods has provided an opportunity to obtain highly purified natural bioactive compounds extracts with potential for the treatment and prevention of human diseases. The use of hazardous and toxic solvents in extraction and processing of bioactive compounds from plant materials is considered as a big problem in health, safety and environmental pollution. Advanced technology aims to increase the production of the desired compounds and find an alternative to using toxic solvents in the extraction processes of bioactive compounds from plant materials. The ever growing interest in plant bioactive compounds and today's concern on environment issues have led to an increase need for efficient and green extraction method. This review is focused on the extraction of bioactive compounds from plant using advanced and environmental friendly methods such as supercritical fluid extraction method, microwave-assisted extraction method, ultrasound-assisted extraction and similar techniques that can give fast and organic residues free extract. An update overview of the bioactive compounds present in plant of Phaleria macrocarpa and its extraction, fractionation, purification and isolation are provided. The advantages and disadvantages of both conventional and non-conventional extraction methods are also discussed in this review.