It is suggested to use two-phase extractant (TPE) systems

consisting of lipophilic and hydrophilic components of

suppository bases for the extraction of biologically active
substances from raw plant materials. The influence of the
polar and nonpolar phases on the efficiency of extraction
of lipophilic (chlorophylls) and hydrophilic (flavonoids,
anthracene derivatives) biologically active substances has
been studied using St. John’s wort (Hypericum
perforatum) as a model medicinal plant. A TPE system
comprising a mixture of A-type hard fat and 80% aqueous
propylene glycol has been chosen for the extraction, and
the optimum extraction conditions for St. John’s wort in
this system have been established (temperature, 80 ± 5°C;
extraction time, 90 min). Higher temperatures and longer
periods of extraction lead to the decomposition of
anthracene derivatives. The results obtained for several
types of raw plant materials show that the yield of
lipophilic compounds extracted using TPE systems is
several times as large as that obtained by extraction with
the hard fat component alone. It is also found that the
major properties of the A-type hard fat, including the acid
and peroxide numbers, melting point, solidification point,
and hardness, are not influenced by heating and by the
presence of a polar phase during two-phase extraction. A
significant increase in the acid and peroxide numbers of
the fat takes place upon its contact with the plant material.
Thus, hard fat in a TPE system possesses a sufficiently
high chemical and physical stability during the two-phase
extraction process.