Abstract
In this paper, microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens were studied by HPLC-photodiode array detection. Effects of several experimental parameters, such as concentration of extraction solvent, ratio of liquid to material, microwave power, extraction temperature, and extraction time on the extraction efficiencies of oxymatrine were evaluated. The optimal extraction conditions were 60% ethanol, a 20:1 (v/v) ratio of liquid to material and extraction for 10 min at 50 °C under 500 W microwave irradiation. Under the optimum conditions, the yield of oxymatrine was 14.37 mg/g. The crude extract obtained could be used as either a component of some complex traditional medicines or for further isolation and purification of bioactive compounds. The results, which indicated that MAE is a very useful tool for the extraction of important phytochemicals from plant materials, should prove helpful for the full utilization of Sophora flavescens.
Highlights
Sophora flavescens Ait has been widely used for the treatment of cancer, hepatitis, leucopenia, bronchitis, cardiac and skin diseases [1,2,3,4,5]
The results indicated that 60% ethanol was suitable for the microwave-assisted extraction of oxymatrine from the plant, which was chosen as extracting solvent in the further experiments
A microwave-assisted extraction method has been developed for the extraction of oxymatrine from
Summary
Sophora flavescens Ait has been widely used for the treatment of cancer, hepatitis, leucopenia, bronchitis, cardiac and skin diseases [1,2,3,4,5]. Methanol-water and chloroform-ammonia solutions were used as extracting solvents for extraction of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens in the literature [8,13], water and ethanol-water solutions were more widely used because of the toxicity of chloroform and methanol, which are harmful to human beings and environment. The extraction rates of oxymatrine were usually low using conventional methods, such as the decocting method (52.3%) and refluxing method (53.4%) [8]. MAE is a highly efficient and reduced solventand time-consumption method. It was unknown whether the extraction rate of oxymatrine could be improved using MAE. The effects of microwave irradiation on the extraction of oxymatrine from Sophora flavescens were studied. The results obtained should be helpful for the full utilization of Sophora flavescens
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