Extraction is the first step to separate the desired natural products from

the raw materials. Extraction methods include solvent extraction,

distillation method, pressing and sublimation according to the extraction
principle. Solvent extraction is the most widely used method. The
extraction of natural products progresses through the following stages:
(1) the solvent penetrates into the solid matrix; (2) the solute dissolves
in the solvents; (3) the solute is diffused out of the solid matrix; (4) the
extracted solutes are collected. Any factor enhancing the diffusivity and
solubility in the above steps will facilitate the extraction. The properties
of the extraction solvent, the particle size of the raw materials, the
solvent-to-solid ration, the extraction temperature and the extraction
duration will affect the extraction efficiency.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5905184/
Various studies with crude extracts, bioactive fractions and isolated
compounds from natural products especially from medicinal plants
showed potent XO inhibitory potential and act as ideal
pharmacophores. Notably, activities of some of these isolated
compounds were highly promising in terms of their XO inhibition.
However, lack of proper in vivo studies in relation to toxicity,
bioavailability and mechanistic studies are a major issue. With the
help of advanced techniques for the screening, identification, and
isolation of bioactive phytochemicals along with chemical modification
of promising pharmacophores for their improved activity and
bioavailability will lead to the development of effective XOI from
natural products. Further pre-clinical studies with the plant extracts
and isolated compounds in terms of their bioavailability, toxicity, and
structure-activity relationships will establish the therapeutic efficacy of
these natural products as clinically relevant XO inhibitors.
Prathapan Ayyappan, Suresh V. Nampoothiri, in Studies in Natural
Products Chemistry, 2020
https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/crude-extract
Extraction (as the term is pharmaceutically used) is the separation of
medicinally active portions of plant (and animal) tissues using selective
solvents through standard procedures. Such extraction techniques
separate the soluble plant metabolites and leave behind the insoluble
cellular marc. The products so obtained from plants are relatively
complex mixtures of metabolites, in liquid or semisolid state or (after
removing the solvent) in dry powder form, and are intended for oral or
external use. These include classes of preparations known as decoctions,
infusions, fluid extracts, tinctures, pilular (semisolid) extracts or
powdered extracts. Such preparations have been popularly called
galenicals, named after Galen, the second century Greek physician. The
purpose of standardized extraction procedures for crude drugs
(medicinal plant parts) is to attain the therapeutically desired portions
and to eliminate unwanted material by treatment with a selective
solvent known as menstruum. The extract thus obtained, after
standardization, may be used as medicinal agent as such in the form of
tinctures or fluid extracts or further processed to be incorporated in any
dosage form such as tablets and capsules. These products all contain
complex mixture of many medicinal plant metabolites, such as alkaloids,
glycosides, terpenoids, flavonoids and lignans. In order to be used as a
modern drug, an extract may be further processed through various
techniques of fractionation to isolate individual chemical entities such as
vincristine, vinblastine, hyoscyamine, hyoscine, pilocarpine, forskolin
and codeine.
The basic parameters influencing the quality of an extract are the plant parts
used as starting material, the solvent used for extraction, the manufacturing
process (extraction technology) used with the type of equipment employed,
and the crude-drug: extract ratio. The use of appropriate extraction
technology, plant material, manufacturing equipment, extraction method and
solvent and the adherence to good manufacturing practices certainly help to
produce a good quality extract. From laboratory scale to pilot scale, all the
conditions and parameters can be modelled using process simulation for
successful industrial-scale production. Extraction Technologies for Medicinal and Aromatic
Plants Scientifi c Editors: Sukhdev Swami Handa Suman Preet Singh Khanuja Gennaro Longo Dev Dutt
Rakesh, 2008
https://www.unido.org/sites/default/files/2009-10/Extraction_technologies_for_medicinal_and_aroma
tic_plants_0.pdf

Recommendation

Based on the findings and conclusion of the study, the researchers would like to propose the following
recommendations

1. A comparable study which uses different method of extraction with the basella alba to test its
effectivity as mosquito larvicide
2. A similar study of basella alba with other botanical material with natural medicinal and
pesticidal properties
3. A study should be conducted to see whether the same extract has any therapeutic promise.