Classification and techniques of aqueous and alcoholic extracts

Extraction-The process of separating medicinally active constituents of plant and animal tissues with the help
of selective solvents and standard procedures is termed as extraction.

Extract- A preparation of material used as medication or in drugs that is derived from bacteria, plant or animal.

Phytochemistry- It involves the study of chemical (the secondary metabolites) the plants produce as a major to
protect themselves from insects, pests, pathogens, herbivores, UV exposures and environmental hazards.

Phytochemicals- They are naturally occurring and biologically active chemical compounds present plant.

Extraction
The standardized extraction procedures involve treatment with the selective solvent (menstruum) to yield the
therapeutically active constituents of a crude drugs, removing the inactive ones.

The undissolved left behind is termed as marc.

The drug extraction process is divided into following four steps –

1. The solvent penetrates the drug.

2. The drug constituents dissolve in solvent.
3. The solution with in the cell diffuses out.
4. The dissolved portion separates from the exhausted drug.

The efficiency of extraction process depends on the following factors-

1. Nature and properties of the drug and its extractable constituents.

2. Particle size of powdered drug.
3. Solvent nature.
4. The state of contact between the solvent and drug particles.

Principle of Extraction

 Extraction uses the property of solubility to transfer a solute from one phase to another phase.
 In order to perform an extraction, the solute must have higher solubility in second phase than in
original phase.

Choice of solvent

Solute- A part of solution that is less prevalent than the solvent.

Solvent- A material (molecule) that has a capacity to dissolve other substance (solute) and form a solution
is called solvent.

E.g. Polar solvent- Water

Non- Polar solvent- Hydrocarbons

An ideal solvent used for extraction should have following properties-

1. It should be non-toxic.
2. It should be stable i.e. physically and chemically inert.
3. It should not be too volatile and inflammable.
4. It should be selective in nature i.e. the desired amount of active ingredients can be extracted using
minimum amount of inert material.
 Solvent used of extraction

Sr. Name of Description Advantage Disadvantage

No. solvent
1. Water  Most polar  Dissolves wide  Promotes
solvent. range of bacterial and
 Universal substance. mold growth.
solvent.  Non-toxic  Large
 Water is used amount of
for extraction heat required
because of its to
high polarity concentrate
and the extract.
miscibility
with organic
solvents.
 Used for
extracting
plant products
having
antimicrobial
properties.
2. Alcohol  Polar in  It is self-  Does not
nature. preservative. dissolve fats,
 Miscible with  Small amount gums and
water. of heat is wax.
 Extract polar required for  It is volatile.
secondary concentration.
metabolites.
E.g.
Alkaloids,
Flavonoids,
tannins,
saponins and
terpenoids.
 Moreover
alcohol can
easily
penetrate the
plant cellular
membrane to
extract the
intercellular
ingredients.
3. Chloroform  Non-polar  Soluble in  Has sedative
solvent. alcohol. property.
 Useful in  Also well  Has
extraction of absorbed and carcinogenic
compounds metabolized. property.
such as
alkaloids, fatty
acids etc.
 Terpenoids
and tannins
can be
obtained by
successive
extractions of
dried barks
 using hexane,
chloroform
and methanol
with activity
concentrating
in chloroform
fraction.
4. Ether  Non-polar  Miscible with  Highly
solvent. water. volatile.
 Useful in  Low boiling  Flammable
extraction of point. in nature.
compounds
such as
alkaloids,
coumarins and
fatty acids.

Modern methods of Extraction

Aqueous extraction Alcoholic extraction
An extract made by drying a fluid solution of a It is the isolation of active ingredients from drug
soluble ingredients from drug until the mixture either material with the help of active solvent (alcohol).
semi-solid or solid.

Various extraction methods

Aqueous extraction methods Alcoholic extraction methods Hydro-alcoholic methods

Digestion Maceration Percolation
Supercritical fluid extraction Soxhlet extraction Pressure cooker
Counter current extraction Ultrasonic assisted extraction
Infusions and Decoction Use of surface active agents in drug
extraction
Microwave assisted extraction Expression and Diacolation
Extraction by passage through
colloid mill

Sr.no. Method Description Procedure Uses

1. Maceration  The word This is an extraction process  Tinctures
maceration wherein a container is filled with  Concentrated
denotes coarsely powdered drug material infusions
softening. (leaves, stem bark, or root bark),
 It is the and menstruum is poured on top of
process by the drug material until it is
which completely covered. After that, the
organized container is sealed and left for a
tissue is minimum of three days.To
transformed guarantee full extraction, the
into a material is periodically shaken and
suspension stirred if it is placed inside a bottle.
of intact Filtration or decantation is used to
cells. separate the micelle from marc at
the conclusion of extraction. Next,
the micelle is evaporated in an oven
or on top of a water bath to separate
it from the menstruum. This is a
 very practical approach that works
well with plant material that is
thermolabile.

2. Digestion  It is Powdered medication is added to a This method is

modified clean container after the extraction suitable for plant
maceration solvent has been poured in. The materials that are
process. mixture is put in an oven set at readily soluble.
 Digestion is roughly 50 degrees Celsius or over
an a water bath. Throughout the
extractive extraction process, heat was
technique employed to improve the removal
that of secondary metabolites and
involves a reduce the viscosity of the
small extraction solvent.
amount of
heat
throughout
the
extraction
process,
much like
maceration.

3. Percolation/  The term The device employed in this Suitable for

Lixivation percolation procedure is known as a percolator. processing traditional
has been It is a glass vase with openings at medicines.
derived both ends that is formed like a
from Greek narrow cone. In a clean container, a
word which dried, ground, and finely powdered
means to plant material is soaked with the
pass extraction solvent. After adding
through. more solvent, the mixture is stirred
 The and left for four hours. After that,
procedure the lower end of the percolator is
of passing a closed and the content is placed
menstruum inside. It is let to stand for a full
through a day. The drug material is then fully
powdered saturated with the extraction
extract its solvent, which is subsequently
soluble poured from the top. After that, the
ingredients. percolator's lower section is
opened, allowing the liquid to drip
gradually. Gravitational force was
used to remove the material while a
constant amount of solvent was
introduced forcing the solvent
downward through the drug
substance. When the volume of
solvent added had increased to 75%
of the total amount intended for the
preparations, the solvent addition
stopped. Decantation is the next
step after filtering to separate the
extract. Next, the marc is
expressed, and the last quantity of
solvent is added to obtain the
necessary volume.
4. Continuous Soxhlet extraction is The glass-based device is known as Soxhlet extraction is
hot thought of as a a Soxhlet extractor. It is made up of also a common
extraction continuous solvent an extraction chamber, a siphon method for the
(Soxhlet extraction technique tube, a condenser at the top, and a extraction of
extraction) that uses solvents at round-bottom flask. Plant material bioactive compounds,
room temperature that has been dried, ground, and such as lipids, sterols,
and pressure to finely powdered is put inside a and fatty acids
selectively extract porous bag (thimble) that is made
desired chemicals of sturdy filter paper or clean fabric
from solid materials. and fastened shut.The bottom flask
is filled with the extraction solvent,
and then the thimble is placed
inside the extraction chamber. After
that, the solvent is heated from the
bottom flask, evaporates, and flows
through the condenser before
condensing and flowing down to
the extraction chamber, where it
comes into contact with the
medication to extract it. Thus, when
the extraction chamber's solvent
level reaches its maximum.
As a result, the extracted plant
material and solvent return to the
flask when the solvent level in the
extraction chamber reaches the top
of the siphon. Until the medication
is fully extracted—that is, when a
solvent exiting the extraction
chamber leaves no residue behind
—the entire procedure is repeated
repeatedly. Plant materials that
have insoluble contaminants or that
are only partially soluble in the
selected solvent can be treated with
this technique. It isn't a good
technique for thermolabile plant
materials, though.

5. Supercritical  The process 1. Powdered solid material

Fluid of are charged into extractor.
Extraction supercritica 2. A high pressure pumps
l fluid deliver CO2 to extractor
extraction which is where
involves phytoconstituent happen.
separating 3. Through pressure
one reduction valves, CO2 and
component the extracted
(i.e. the phytoconstituents are
extractant) transported from the
from extractor to the separator.
another (i.e. 4. The extract precipitates in
the matrix) the separator under
using conditions of decreased
supercritica temperature and pressure.
l fluids (i.e. 5. Any extract that is CO2
extracting free is recycled back into
solvent). the extractor.
 The
extraction is
generally
from a solid
matrix or
from liquid.