Natural Product Extracts Research Articles

Potential and Performance of Accelerated Solvent Extraction (ASE) in Obtaining Bioactive Compounds from Bee Propolis: Comparison with Soaking, Ultrasonication, and Microwave-Assisted Methods

Propolis is a natural resinous substance collected by honeybees from buds and exudates of trees. The material has attracted much attention in recent years as a functional food component since it possesses various biological properties, including antimicrobial, antioxidative, and anti-ulcer properties. In this study, the performance of accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) was assessed and compared with varying methods of extraction: soaking (maceration), ultrasonication, and microwave-assisted methods. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and other spectroscopic techniques, such as absorbance and fluorescence, were employed to assess the efficiency in the extraction of natural products. The antioxidant activity and phenolic content of the different extracts were also determined. Results showed samples obtained from the microwave method showed the highest yield in the extraction of bioactive compounds. Although microwave showed the best method in this study, some issues and recommendations on ASE application for extracting natural products from bee propolis were discussed. Given the ease in controlling extraction temperature with ASE, this technique has a great potential to be a better method for extraction of heat-labile natural products from propolis should optimization of conditions for extraction were further performed.

Neuroprotective Natural Products for Alzheimer's Disease.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the number one neurovegetative disease, but its treatment options are relatively few and ineffective. In efforts to discover new strategies for AD therapy, natural products have aroused interest in the research community and in the pharmaceutical industry for their neuroprotective activity, targeting different pathological mechanisms associated with AD. A wide variety of natural products from different origins have been evaluated preclinically and clinically for their neuroprotective mechanisms in preventing and attenuating the multifactorial pathologies of AD. This review mainly focuses on the possible neuroprotective mechanisms from natural products that may be beneficial in AD treatment and the natural product mixtures or extracts from different sources that have demonstrated neuroprotective activity in preclinical and/or clinical studies. It is believed that natural product mixtures or extracts containing multiple bioactive compounds that can work additively or synergistically to exhibit multiple neuroprotective mechanisms might be an effective approach in AD drug discovery.

Novel therapeutic strategies and perspectives for pancreatic cancer: Autophagy and apoptosis are key mechanisms to fight pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the most lethal malignancy of the gastrointestinal tract. The poor prognosis of patients with PC is primarily due to lack of effective treatments against its progressive and metastatic behavior. Hence, figuring out the mechanisms underlying PC development and putting up with effective targeted therapies are of great significance to improve the prognosis of patients with PC. Apoptosis and autophagy serve to maintain tissue homoeostasis. Escaping from apoptosis or autophagy is one of the features of malignancy. PC is seriously resistant to autophagy and apoptosis, which explains its invasiveness and resistance to conventional treatment. Recently, several biological activities and pharmacological functions found in natural product extracts have been reported to inhibit PC progression. The current review focuses on understanding natural product extracts and their derivatives as one kind of novel treatments through affecting the apoptosis or autophagy in PC.

Development of ultrasound-assisted centrifugal extraction combined with two countercurrent chromatography systems for the simultaneous extraction and isolation of phytochemicals.

We proposed a method for the extraction of medicinal herbs, called ultrasound-assisted centrifugal extraction, and an online solvent concentration method. These techniques were coupled with two countercurrent chromatography systems and applied to the continuous extraction and online isolation of chemical constituents from Inonotus obliquus. Raw plants were extracted using a two-phase petroleum-ethanol-water (2.0:1.0:2.0, v/v/v) process, and then the aqueous and organic phases were concentrated using the proposed online solvent concentrator. The countercurrent chromatography preparation prior to separation includes pumping of the two-phase solution, rotating column, and equilibrium column. Following online concentration, the extracted solution was pumped into a second countercurrent chromatography process for separation. During separation, the extraction solution and concentrated extract were prepared automatically. Upon completion of the first cycle of ultrasound-assisted centrifugal extraction/two countercurrent chromatography, the second cycle experiment starts. This process can be indefinitely repeated. In this study, six target compounds with purities above 97.71% were successfully extracted and isolated online using a two-phase solvent system consisting of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-acetonitrile (4.5:1.5:5.5, v/v/v) and n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (0.4:3.0:1.5:2.5, v/v/v/v). Compared to conventional extraction methods, the instrumental setup of the proposed method provides enhanced automation, efficiency, purity, and systematic extraction and isolation of natural products.

A Screen of Natural Product Extracts Identifies Moenomycin as a Potent Antigonococcal Agent.

Increasing multidrug resistance in Neisseria gonorrheae is a growing public health crisis. Resistance to the last line therapies, cephalosporins and azithromycin, are of particular concern, fueling the need to discover new treatments. Here, we identified the phosphoglycolipid moenomycin from a screen of microbial natural products against drug-resistant N. gonorrheae as a potent antigonococcal agent. Moenomycin demonstrates excellent activity (MIC = 0.004-0.03 μg/mL) against a variety of multidrug-resistant N. gonorrheae. Importantly, moenomycin, thought to be a Gram-positive specific antibiotic, penetrates the Gram-negative gonococcal outer membrane. Moenomycin causes intracellular accumulation of peptidoglycan precursors, cell blebbing, and rupture of the cell envelope, all consistent with cell wall biosynthesis inhibition. Serial bacterial exposure to moenomycin for 14 days revealed slow development of resistance (MICDay14 = 0.03-0.06 μg/mL), unlike the clinically used drug azithromycin. Our results offer the potential utility of moenomycin as a lead for antigonococcal therapeutic candidates and warrant further investigation.

Research for improvement on the extract efficiency of lignans in traditional Chinese medicines by hybrid ionic liquids: As a case of Suhuang antitussive capsule

Recently, efficient extraction of natural products from traditional Chinese medicines (TCMs) by green solvents is deemed an essential area of green technology and attracts extensive attentions. In this work, a green protocol for simultaneous ultrasonic-extraction of the native compounds with different polarities of TCMs by using a hybrid ionic liquids (HILs)-water system was reported for the first time. As a case study, three superior ILs (1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([EMIM][BF4]), 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([EMIM][OAc]), and 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([AMIM]Cl)) were chosen as the compositions of the HILs system, and the TCMs Suhuang antitussive capsule (SH) containing different-polarity lignans was selected. Primarily, an ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled to triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS/MS) method in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode was established for qualitative and quantitative analysis of 18 lignans. After majorization by uniform design experiment, the HILs prepared with [AMIM]Cl, [EMIM][BF4], and [EMIM][OAc] at a volume ratio of 1:5:5 could simultaneously extract multi-polarity lignans compared to single IL. Subsequently, the conditions of ultrasonic extraction employing with HILs and traditional organic solvent were optimized by the response surface methodology, respectively. The results indicated that the extract efficiency of the HILs system for target compounds was significantly improved compared with the traditional organic solvent-extraction, i.e. the content of total lignans in ethanol system was up to 47 mg/g, while that in the HILs system was up to 69 mg/g, with an increasing of 47%. Additionally, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR spectra were used to characterize the hydrogen-bond interactions in the HILs-lignan mixtures. Extraction with the HILs in TCMs is a new application schema of ILs, which not only avoids the use of volatile toxic organic solvents, but also shows the potential to be comprehensively applied for the extraction of bioactive compounds from TCMs.

Autophagy is a double-edged sword in the therapy of colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. The limitations of colorectal cancer treatment include various types of multidrug resistance and the contingent damage to neighboring normal cells caused by chemotherapy. Macroautophagy/autophagy and apoptosis are essential mechanisms involved in cancer cell regulation of chemotherapy. Autophagy can either cause cancer cell death or promote tumor survival during colorectal cancer. Given that autophagy is involved in chemotherapy of colorectal cancer, an improved insight into the potential interactions between apoptosis and autophagy is crucial. The present review aimed to summarize the involvement of autophagy in the regulation of colorectal cancer and its association with chemotherapy. Furthermore, the role of natural product extraction, novel chemicals and small molecules, as well as radiation, which induce autophagy in colorectal cancer cells, were reviewed. Finally, the present review aimed to provide an outlook for the regulation of autophagy as a novel approach to the treatment of cancer, particularly chemotherapy-resistant colorectal cancer.

Techno-dependencies in video games production: A Chilean case study

In recent years video games have become one of the major entertainment industries in the world, attracting millions of players and thousands of companies worldwide to virtual and non-virtual platforms. Middle-income countries such as Chile look at video games and other service sectors as viable industries to promote in the context of their economies, which currently rely on high specialisation in the extraction of natural resources and low value-added manufacturing products. However, a question must be asked: is the video games sector in Chile in danger of repeating similar patterns of dependency showed by those extractive-based industries? The following article explores this issue, deploying a Latin American dependency theory perspective combined with new insights from cognitive capitalism literature. Two main contributions derive from the analysis. First, the use of dependency theory and related literature is still valuable when it comes to understanding the conditions of technological dependency in highly-innovative sectors. Secondly, the analysis of video games sector development in Chile in itself contributes to digital games research and economic geography, as peripheral territories such as Chile are frequently ignored in the ongoing critical and policy discourse of creative/digital industries. Deploying semi-structured interviews with Chilean game developers and governmental agencies, the article evidence forms of dependency on the use of non-proprietary technological tools (game engines and software development kits – SDKs) and the protection of intellectual property (IP) in the centre (publishing schemes).

Extraction and Analysis of Natural Product in Plant

Plants are well known for being a major source of natural compounds, many of them generally considered of biological interest for their antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial or anti-cancerogenic properties [...]

Discovery of a Novel Lineage Burkholderia cepacia ST 1870 Endophytically Isolated from Medicinal Polygala paniculata Which Shows Potent In Vitro Antileishmanial and Antimicrobial Effects

In this study, we report the isolation and identification of an endophytic strain of Burkholderia cepacia (COPS strain) associated with Polygala paniculata roots. Polygala plants are rich sources of promising microbiomes, of which the literature reports several pharmacological effects, such as trypanocidal, antinociceptive, anesthetic, anxiolytics, and anticonvulsant activities. B. cepacia COPS belongs to a new sequence type (ST 1870) and harbors a genome estimated in 8.3 Mbp which exhibits the aminoglycosides and beta-lactams resistance genes aph(3′)-IIa and blaTEM-116, respectively. Analysis performed using MLST, average nucleotide identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization support its species-level identification and reveals its novel housekeeping genes alleles gyrB, lepA, and phaC. The root endophyte B. cepacia COPS drew our attention from a group of 14 bacterial isolates during the primary screening for being potentially active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Enterococcus faecalis ATCC 29212, Micrococcus luteus ATCC 9341, Escherichia coli ATCC 25922, and Candida albicans ATCC 10231 and exhibited the broad-spectrum activity against phytopathogenic fungi. In addition, COPS strain showed production of protease, lipase, and esterase in solid media, and its natural product extract showed potent inhibition against fungal plant pathogens, such as Moniliophthora perniciosa, whose antagonism index (89.32%) exceeded the positive control (74.17%), whereas Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Ceratocystis paradoxa showed high percentages of inhibition (85.53% and 82.69%, respectively). COPS crude extract also significantly inhibited S. epidermidis ATCC 35984, E. faecium ATCC 700221 (MIC values of 32 μg/mL for both), E. faecalis ATCC 29212 (64 μg/mL), and S. aureus ATCC 25923 (128 μg/mL). We observed moderate antagonistic activity against A. baumannii ATCC 19606 and E. coli ATCC 25922 (both at 512 μg/mL), as well as potent cytotoxic effects on Leishmania infantum and Leishmania major promastigote forms with 78.25% and 57.30% inhibition. In conclusion, this study presents for the first time the isolation of an endophytic B. cepacia strain associated with P. paniculata and enough evidence that these plants may be considered a rich source of microbes for the fight against neglected diseases.

Fast Photo-Chrono-Amperometry of Photosynthetic Complexes for Biosensors and Electron Transport Studies.

Photosynthetic reactions in plants, algae, and cyanobacteria are driven by photosystem I and photosystem II complexes, which specifically reduce or oxidize partner redox biomolecules. Photosynthetic complexes can also bind synthetic organic molecules, which inhibit their photoactivity and can be used both to study the electron transport chain and as herbicides and algicides. Thus, their development, characterization, and sensing bears fundamental and applied interest. Substantial efforts have been devoted to developing photosensors based on photosystem II to detect compounds that bind to the plastoquinone sites of this complex. In comparison, photosystem I based sensors have received less attention and could be used to identify novel substances displaying phytotoxic effects, including those obtained from natural product extracts. We have developed a robust procedure to functionalize gold electrodes with photo- and redox-active photosystem I complexes based on transparent gold and a thiolate self-assembled monolayer, and we have obtained reproducible electrochemical photoresponses. Chronoamperometric recordings have allowed us to measure photocurrents in the presence of the viologen derivative paraquat at concentrations below 100 nM under lock-in operation and a sensor dynamic range spanning six orders of magnitude up to 100 mM. We have modeled their time course to identify the main electrochemical processes and limiting steps in the electron transport chain. Our results allow us to isolate the contributions from photosystem I and the redox mediator, and evaluate photocurrent features (spectral and power dependence, fast transient kinetics) that could be used as a sensing signal to detect other inhibitors and modulators of photosystem I activity.

Leveraging Peptaibol Biosynthetic Promiscuity for Next-Generation Antiplasmodial Therapeutics.

Malaria remains a worldwide threat, afflicting over 200 million people each year. The emergence of drug resistance against existing therapeutics threatens to destabilize global efforts aimed at controlling Plasmodium spp. parasites, which is expected to leave vast portions of humanity unprotected against the disease. To address this need, systematic testing of a fungal natural product extract library assembled through the University of Oklahoma Citizen Science Soil Collection Program has generated an initial set of bioactive extracts that exhibit potent antiplasmodial activity (EC50 < 0.30 μg/mL) and low levels of toxicity against human cells (less than 50% reduction in HepG2 growth at 25 μg/mL). Analysis of the two top-performing extracts from Trichoderma sp. and Hypocrea sp. isolates revealed both contained chemically diverse assemblages of putative peptaibol-like compounds that were responsible for their antiplasmodial actions. Purification and structure determination efforts yielded 30 new peptaibols and lipopeptaibols (1-14 and 28-43), along with 22 known metabolites (15-27 and 44-52). While several compounds displayed promising activity profiles, one of the new metabolites, harzianin NPDG I (14), stood out from the others due to its noteworthy potency (EC50 = 0.10 μM against multi-drug-resistant P. falciparum line Dd2) and absence of gross toxicity toward HepG2 at the highest concentrations tested (HepG2 EC50 > 25 μM, selectivity index > 250). The unique chemodiversity afforded by these fungal isolates serves to unlock new opportunities for translating peptaibols into a bioactive scaffold worthy of further development.

WITHDRAWN: A critical investigation on regenerative braking energy recovering system on HEV based on electric and natural extracted fuel

Abstract In recent years the process of developing hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) with a regenerative braking system is been thought by the manufacturers and the usage of HEV is been eventually increased. Regenerative braking is a mechanism that helps to slow down the moving electric vehicle. By this slow-down process, the kinetic is been converted into electrical energy, and this converted energy can be either stored or used immediately. The regenerative braking system involves various benefits. Proper implementation of the regenerative braking system extends the driving range, improves the braking efficiency, reduces brake wear, and also improves the energy. Due to the recharging capability of the battery during travel, it is determined that regenerative brakes have innovative features. It also results in less thermal conductivity and balances the tribological factor so that the regenerative brakes last longer than non-regenerative brakes. The regenerative braking system is almost used in all of the hybrid and battery charged electric cars. The fuels which is been used in the vehicles are natural gas and biodiesel. Biodiesel is been obtained by the extraction of a few natural products which helps in the movement of the vehicle. Without any mechanical connection with the motors and ICE (Internal Combustion Engine), the battery is being charged. In this method, the required energy for charging the battery is been captured and the need which is not needed for charging is been used for vehicle propulsion. It also helps in improving fuel efficiency depending on the size of the motor. HEV's emit zero carbon into the atmosphere when compared with ICE based vehicles. A hybrid vehicle runs on a twin powered engine which uses the blend of natural oil in it which helps in conserving the amount of energy. Hybrid Electric Vehicle is eco-friendly and it has a better gas mileage performance. This research is a detailed study of the future development of highly efficient with low pollution HEV.

The Multifunctional Roles of Polyphenols in Plant-Herbivore Interactions.

There is no argument to the fact that insect herbivores cause significant losses to plant productivity in both natural and agricultural ecosystems. To counter this continuous onslaught, plants have evolved a suite of direct and indirect, constitutive and induced, chemical and physical defenses, and secondary metabolites are a key group that facilitates these defenses. Polyphenols—widely distributed in flowering plants—are the major group of such biologically active secondary metabolites. Recent advances in analytical chemistry and metabolomics have provided an opportunity to dig deep into extraction and quantification of plant-based natural products with insecticidal/insect deterrent activity, a potential sustainable pest management strategy. However, we currently lack an updated review of their multifunctional roles in insect-plant interactions, especially focusing on their insect deterrent or antifeedant properties. This review focuses on the role of polyphenols in plant-insect interactions and plant defenses including their structure, induction, regulation, and their anti-feeding and toxicity effects. Details on mechanisms underlying these interactions and localization of these compounds are discussed in the context of insect-plant interactions, current findings, and potential avenues for future research in this area.

A biomimetic antimicrobial surface for membrane fouling control in reverse osmosis for seawater desalination

Membrane fouling occurs in all membrane processes. Surface modifications have gained popularity for enhancing membrane antifouling capability via introducing a hydrophilic component or reducing membrane surface roughness. In this work, we proposed to develop a green antimicrobial lysozyme nanofilm on the polyamide membrane surface with remarkable antibacterial and antifouling properties to effectively reduce membrane fouling. The nanofilm is rooted in the molecular assembly of a protein which is an extraction of food and natural products. The nanofilm exhibits the combination of various functions including antimicrobial, antifouling and antibiofilm. This protein-based nanofilm is robustly transferred and self-adhered on the membrane surface by a simple one-step aqueous coating. The modified RO membrane exhibited good performance in bacterial reduction of ~50% in comparison to the control membrane and experienced almost zero loss in water flux and salt rejection under SWRO testing condition. The membrane is further evaluated with real seawater for 14 days and the modified membrane showed its superiority in flux and fouling control which were verified by the confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and quantified by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometer (ICP-OES). This work demonstrates that the protein-based biomaterials offer a safe and environmentally friendly way of antimicrobials, which can reduce membrane fouling significantly in membrane filtration.

Development of ultrasound-assisted centrifugal extraction and online solvent concentration coupled with parallel countercurrent chromatography for the preparation of purified phytochemicals: Application to Lycium ruthenicum

To improve the preparation efficiency of natural products, new techniques for extraction and concentration of natural products have been established. Based on this, an on-line technology to improve the yield and preparation efficiency of natural products have been established. In this study, a novel method to extract natural products from crops and plants, termed ultrasound-assisted centrifugal extraction (UACE), was developed as a supplement to a new online solvent concentration (OSC) technique. These techniques were coupled with parallel countercurrent chromatography (PCCC) and evaluated in the automated preparation of phytochemicals from Lycium ruthenicum. The UACE device comprises an extraction chamber and a solution separation chamber and offers the advantages of higher extraction efficiency, fewer impurities, and conduciveness to sample processing. The OSC device comprises a spray nozzle, concentrating cylinder, and hot-blast air nozzle. The mechanical parameters of the UACE and OSC were optimized, and the operation mode of online UACE combined with OSC and PCCC was described. Raw plant materials were extracted with a two-phase extractant comprising petroleum ether‒ethyl acetate‒ethanol‒water (2:2:1:6, v/v/v/v), and the aqueous and organic phases were then concentrated by OSC. After extraction and online concentration, the concentrate was separated. During PCCC separation, the on-line extraction, and concentration were still conducted. When the first cycle of the UACE/OSC/PCCC was completed, the second cycle was initiated, and so on. As a result, six target compounds with purities exceeding 97.03 % (high performance liquid chromatography detection at 250 nm) were successfully separated using the countercurrent chromatography solvent systems comprising n-heptane‒ethyl acetate‒acetonitrile‒water (20:4:17:1, v/v/v/v) and n-butanol–ethyl acetate–water (55:21:70, v/v/v). Compared with conventional extraction methods, the proposed method offers the advantages of efficiency, automation, high-purity separation of the analytes, and systematic preparation of natural products from crops.

The Baltic Health Index (BHI): Assessing the social–ecological status of the Baltic Sea

Abstract Improving the health of coastal and open sea marine ecosystems represents a substantial challenge for sustainable marine resource management, since it requires balancing human benefits and impacts on the ocean. This challenge is often exacerbated by incomplete knowledge and lack of tools that measure ocean and coastal ecosystem health in a way that allows consistent monitoring of progress towards predefined management targets. The lack of such tools often limits capabilities to enact and enforce effective governance. We introduce the Baltic Health Index (BHI) as a transparent, collaborative and repeatable assessment tool. The Index complements existing, more ecological‐oriented, approaches by including a human dimension on the status of the Baltic Sea, an ecosystem impacted by multiple anthropogenic pressures and governed by a multitude of comprehensive national and international policies. Using a large amount of social–ecological data available, we assessed the health of the Baltic Sea for nine goals that represent the status towards set targets, for example, clean waters, biodiversity, food provision, natural products extraction and tourism. Our results indicate that the overall health of the Baltic Sea is suboptimal (a score of 76 out of 100), and a substantial effort is required to reach the management objectives and associated targets. Subregionally, the lowest BHI scores were measured for carbon storage, contaminants and lasting special places (i.e. marine protected areas), albeit with large spatial variation. Overall, the likely future status of all goals in the BHI averaged for the entire Baltic Sea is better than the present status, indicating a positive trend towards a healthier Baltic Sea. However, in some Baltic Sea basins, the trend for specific goals was decreasing, highlighting locations and issues that should be the focus of management priorities. The BHI outcomes can be used to identify both pan‐Baltic and subregional scale management priorities and to illustrate the interconnectedness between goals linked by cumulative pressures. Hence, the information provided by the BHI tool and its further development will contribute towards the fulfilment of the UN Agenda 2030 and its Sustainability Development Goals. A free Plain Language Summary can be found within the Supporting Information of this article.

Greener extraction process and enhanced in vivo bioavailability of bioactive components from Carthamus tinctorius L. by natural deep eutectic solvents

Natural deep eutectic solvents (NaDESs) are promising green alternatives to conventional solvents widely applied in the extraction of natural products due to their physical and chemical superiorities. In present study, 22 NaDESs consisted from food grade ingredients were screened in ultrasonic assisted extraction (UAE) of bioactive compounds from safflower. The oral bioavailabilities of hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) and anhydrosafflor yellow B (ASYB) in the extracts were then investigated in SD rats with the help of HPLC-MS technique. The results revealed that l-proline-acetamide (l-Pro-Am) was an effective solvent with the yields of HSYA and ASYB at 32.83 and 8.80 mg/g. Pharmacokinetic studies revealed that the blood level of HSYA and ASYB were significantly higher after oral administration of l-Pro-Am extract than that of aqueous extract. Especially, the relative bioavailabilities (to aqueous extract) of HSYA and ASYB were calculated 183.5% and 429.8%.

Review on Extraction of Phenolic Compounds from Natural Sources Using Green Deep Eutectic Solvents.

For more sustainable and environmentally friendly scientific research, it is essential to apply green chemistry principles in all areas of science. A possible area in which green chemistry principles can significantly influence the productivity and the quality of the outcome is extraction of natural products. The conventional toxic solvents can be replaced by environmentally friendly solvents known as deep eutectic solvents, which fortunately, due to their unique properties, can significantly improve extraction efficiency. In this literature review, the extraction of a specific class of natural products, phenolic compounds, using different types of green deep eutectic solvents has been reviewed. Within this review, the composition of those solvents used to extract different types of phenolic compounds has been discussed. In addition, the factors affecting their extraction, extracting solvent component structure, molar ratio of extracting solvent components, extraction temperature, solid to extraction solvent ratio, and water content, have been evaluated.

Periodic peristalsis enhanced artemisinin extraction in high solids of Artemisia annua

Artemisinin extracted at low solid loading causes low product concentration and high organic solvent usage. In this study, extraction in high solids of Artemisia annua by periodic peristalsis was proposed to increase the concentration of artemisinin and improve the extraction efficiency. The results showed that the artemisinin yield, extracted from leaves of Artemisia annua, increased by 33.9 %–46.5 % in periodic peristalsis extraction (PPE) compared with hot maceration extraction (HME). Based on the lower T2 relaxation time and the higher peak height of pools of solvent, periodic peristalsis could enhance solvent penetration effectively in porous media. Additionally, since the properties of capillary solvent were highly related to the diffusion coefficient (Pearson correlation coefficient > 0.98), periodic peristalsis improved the diffusion coefficient mainly by promoting the penetration of capillary solvent, which resulted in an increase in high solids extraction efficiency. Therefore, periodic peristalsis treatment could be an effective technology to improve natural product extraction performance in high solids.