Abstract
The aim of the present study was to establish the optimal conditions for protodioscin extraction from Tribulus terrestris plant and to investigate the possibilities of mathematical modeling of the process and calculation of the diffusion coefficients essential for the industrial scale-up and management of the extraction process. The kinetics of protodioscin extraction from Tribulus terrestris was experimentally studied at varying the solvent type (70% and 96% ethanol) and temperature (20�C, 30�C, 40�C). The optimal process conditions for these parameters were determined. The experimental results were mathematically modelled. Numerical solutions of the propsed in the study empirical model with constant and variable effective diffusivity in the solid phase, Deff, were obtained. The empirical model was based on comparative analyses with the Regular regime model solutions. It was established that the experimental data complied satisfactorily with the the resulting numerical solutions.
Highlights
T. terrestris is a well-patronized medicinal herb used individually as a single therapeutic agent, as a prime or subordinate component of many pharmaceutically active formulations and food supplements [1,2]
The aim of the present study was to establish the optimal conditions for protodioscin extraction from Tribulus terrestris plant and to investigate the possibilities of mathematical modeling of the process and calculation of the diffusion coefficients, essential for the industrial scale-up and management of the extraction process
Due to the molecular protodioscine structure, the presence of water in the extractant significantly increased the rate of extraction
Summary
T. terrestris is a well-patronized medicinal herb used individually as a single therapeutic agent, as a prime or subordinate component of many pharmaceutically active formulations and food supplements [1,2]. Тhe plant is found in compact fields in Bulgaria, Southern Europe and Central Asia. The whole herbaceous part contains saponins (triline, dioscin, grascillin, protodioscin, methylprotribescine, kukubasoponin) [3], flavonoids (rutin, astragaline, quercetin, kempferol, israminetin), sterols (sitosterol, campsterol), tannins, fatty oils and potassium salts [4]. It is found that in Bulgaria the content of furostanol saponins in the plant is 4 to 5 times higher as compared to that in plants from regions in China and India (Table 1), which except for protodioscin contain protogracillin. According to a number of studies, spirostanol saponins accumulate mainly in the fruits, while furostanol - in the leaves [5-7].
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