PLANT EXTRACT

PLANT EXTRACT

A FUNDAMENTAL TECHNIQUE USED TO ISOLATE ONE COMPOUND FROM A MIXTURE.

EG. TEA AND COFFEE
A WAY TO SEPARATE A DESIRED SUBSTANCE WHEN IT IS MIXED WITH OTHERS.
DEFINITION OF EXTRACT

• Extraction of medicinal plants is a process of separating active plant materials or

secondary metabolites such as alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenes, saponins, steroids, and
glycosides from inert or inactive material using an appropriate solvent and standard
extraction procedure
• Extraction is the process of separation of active components soluble in different solvents.
• As per Ayurveda different solvents are used to separate active components soluble in
different liquids as water,oil,ghee,self generated alcohol,milk,buttermilk etc.
• The solvent used for the extraction of medicinal plants is also known as the menstruum. 
• The choice of solvent depends on the type of plant, part of plant to be extracted, nature of
the bioactive compounds, and the availability of solvent.
• Ideal solvent of extraction should be nontoxic and nonflammable.
• It should be as cheap as possible.
• Suitable solvent of extraction should not react with the extract
DIFFERENT METHODS OF EXTRACTION

• Maceration- In this process,the whole or coarsely powdered crude drug either leaves or stem bark
or root bark, is placed in a stoppered container with the solvent and allowed to stand at room
temperature for a period of at least 3 days with frequent agitation until the soluble matter has
dissolved. The mixture then is strained,the marc(the damp solid material) is pressed,and the
combined liquids are clarified by filteration after standing.
• Infusion- This is an extraction process such as maceration.Fresh infusions are prepared by
macerating the crude drug for a short period of time with cold or boiling water.These are dilute
solutions of the readily soluble constituents of crude drugs. As per Ayurveda, this type of extract
can be called as Hima and Phanta.
It is an appropriate method for preparation of fresh extract before use. 
METHODS

• Digestion-This is a form of maceration in which gentle heat is used during the process of extraction. It is used when
moderately elevated temperature is not objectionable.The solvent efficiency of the menstruum is thereby increased.
• This method is suitable for plant materials that are readily soluble.[1,3,11]
• Decoction- In this process,the crude drug is boiled in a specified volume of water for a defined time; it is then cooled
and strained or filtered. This procedure is suitable for extracting water soluble,heat stable constituents. This process
is typically used in preparation of Ayurvedic extracts called ‘’kwatha’’. The starting ratio of crude drug to water is
fixed,eg.1:4,1:8 or 1:16; the volume is then brought down to one-fourth its original volume by boiling during the
extraction procedure.Then the concentrated extract is filtered and used as such or processed further.
• It is used for extraction of water soluble and heat stable plant material
METHOD

• The extraction procedure involves soaking the crude drug,in the form of either a powder
or a decoction(kashaya)for a specified period of time,during which it undergoes
fermentation(Asava-Arishta)and generates alcohol in situ;this facilitates the extraction of
the active constituents contained in the plant material.In large scale manufacture,wooden
vats,porcelain jars or metal vessels are used in place of earthen vessels.
• The traditional extracting methods require large amount of solvents and its time
consuming. Compared with the general soaking method it(Soxhlet) has the advantages of
small solvent dosage,high efficiency and complete extraction.
SOXHLET

• Hot continuous Extraction(Soxhlet)-In this method the finely ground crude drug is placed
in a porous bag made of strong filter paper,which is placed in chamber of the Soxhlet
apparatus. The extracting solvent in flask is heated and its vapours condense in
condenser.The condensed extractant drips into the porous bag containing the crude drug
and extracts it by contact.