Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Bioactive Compounds from Polytrichum commune Moss Biomass

The leafy moss Common Haircap (Polytrichum commune) is widespread in nature, actively used in folk medicine, and is a promising renewable raw material for obtaining valuable biologically active substances. In this study, a method for extracting lipophilic secondary metabolites from P. commune biomass using supercritical fluid extraction with a mixture of carbon dioxide and acetone (9 : 1) is proposed. The implementation of an experimental design with varying temperature, pressure, and duration of extraction makes it possible to establish the optimal process conditions to achieve maximum values of the yield of extractive substances (>1.5%), the total polyphenolics content, and antioxidant activity. According to a high-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis, the main constituents of the obtained extracts are stilbene flavonone communin A, diterpenoids and pentacyclic triterpenoids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, and pheophytin A, which possess high antioxidant and biological activity.