Organic solvents were compared with supercritical CO 2 relative to efficiency for extracting lipid and γ-oryzanol from rice bran. A solvent mixture with 50% hexane and 50% isopropanol (vol/vol) at a temperature of 60°C for 45-60 min produced the highest yield (1.68 mg/g of rice bran) of γ-oryzanol among organic solvents tested. The yield of γ-oryzanol without saponification was approximately two times higher (P < 0.05) than that with saponification during solvent extraction. However, the yield (5.39 mg/g of rice bran) of γ-oryzanol in supercritical fluid extraction under a temperature of 50°C, pressure of 68,901 kPa (680 atm), and time of 25 min was approximately four times higher than the highest yield of solvent extraction. Also, a high concentration of γ-oryzanol in extract (50-80%) was obtained by collecting the extract after 15-20 min of extraction under optimized conditions. Paper no. J9443 in JAOCS 77, 547-551 (May 2000).KEY WORDS: Supercritical fluid extraction, rice bran, γ-oryzanol.γ-Oryzanol is an important fraction, along with tocotrienols and other unsaponifiables, relative to the hypocholesterolemic effects of rice bran oil (1-4). Since γ-oryzanol is readily dissolved in organic solvents, hexane has typically been used in extraction of γ-oryzanol from rice bran (5-7). However, all components of γ-oryzanol contain an alcohol group in the ferulate portion, which gives rise to a relatively high polarity. These components may also be soluble in more polar solvents, such as isopropanol and ethyl acetate, as well as nonpolar solvents, such as hexane or heptane. The polarity of extraction solvent may significantly affect the extractability of γ-oryzanol from rice bran. The effects of various solvents on the yield of γ-oryzanol in extraction have not been reported. Another unclear factor in extraction is the effect of saponification on the efficiency of extraction. In previous studies, saponification was performed prior to the solvent extraction (5-7). Saponification, which is important for reducing interfering lipids and for breaking down the matrix of rice bran for improved recovery of extraction, may have a negative effect on the extraction of γ-oryzanol. It is possible that the ester bond between the ferulate and triterpene components of γ-oryzanol is cleaved under alkali conditions. This could result in the decomposition of γ-oryzanol and decrease the yield of extraction. The effect of saponification on the yield of γ-oryzanol in solvent extraction has not been reported. Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of lipid has received attention as an alternative to organic solvent extraction and has been shown to be an ideal method for extracting certain lipids (8-13). Carbon dioxide is changed to its supercritical fluid state beyond the supercritical point (73 atm, 31°C). Supercritical CO 2 extraction is nontoxic, nonflammable, and simple in operation when compared with traditional extraction using solvents. These advantages may make supercritical carbon dioxide extraction ideal in the food and pharmaceutic...