The effect of microwave radiation (MW) at three levels of power (100, 200 and 400W) and for three radiation time (30, 60 and 90 s) on Moringa oleifera seeds was studied as a pretreatment process prior to oil extraction by pilot-scale supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) extraction and Soxhlet apparatus. Extraction oil yield by Soxhlet increased with MW pretreatments at 100W for 30,60 and 90s with respect to untreated seeds. Therefore, these MW conditions were selected for SC-CO2 extraction of oil, carried out at 40 degrees C and 300 bar. Combining MW pretreatment at 100W for 30s with SC-CO2 extraction, the maximum oil yield of 35.28% w/w was obtained. The chemical quality of oil extracted by SC-CO2 was higher than Soxhlet oil. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.