Concentration of

Solutions
THE IMPORTANCE OF EXTRACTION
Extraction

 Is the process of separating medicinally active portions of plant tissues using

selective solvents using standard procedures
 The quality of an extract is influenced by
 Plant part used as a starting material
 Solvent used for extraction
 Extraction procedure
The Choice of Solvents
 Successful determination of biologically active compounds depends on the type of solvent used in the extraction
procedure
 Property of a good solvent
 low toxicity
 Ease of evaporation at low heat
 Promotion of rapid physiologic absorption of the extract
 Preservative action
Factors affecting choice of solvents
 Amount of phytochemicals to be extracted
 Rate of extraction
 Diversity of different inhibitory compounds extracted
 Ease of subsequent handling of the extracted material
 Toxicity of the solvent
 Potential health hazard of the extracts
Solvents used for Active Component
Extraction
 Water
 For Anthocyanins, Starches, Saponins, Tannins, Terpenoids, Polypeptides, and Lectins extraction
 Ethanol
 For Tannins, Polyphenols, Polyacetylene, Flavonols, Terpenoids, Sterols, as well as Alkaloids extraction
 Methanol
 For Anthocyanins, Terpenoids, Saponins, Tannins, Xanthoxylllines, Totarols, Quassinoids, Lactones, Flavones,
Phenones, Polyphenols extraction
 Chloroform
 For Terpenoids, Flavonols extraction
 Ether
 For Alkalids, Terpenoids, Coumarins and Fatty Acids extraction
 Acetone
 For Phenols, Flavonols extraction
General Techniques for Medicinal Plant
Extractions
 Plant tissue homogenization
 Maceration
 Infusion
 Percolation
 Digestion
 Decoction
 Soxhlet extraction (hot continuous extraction
 Sonication (Ultrasound extraction)