Extraction of isoflavones from stem of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi using n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system and separation of daidzein

doi:10.1016/j.seppur.2007.01.027

Separation and Purification Technology

Volume 56, Issue 1, 1 August 2007, Pages 85-89

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seppur.2007.01.027 Get rights and content

Abstract

A new process was developed to obtain daidzein, including extraction of isoflavones from the stem of Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi using n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system, alumina column purification and recrystallization. The effects of solvent type on the extraction yield were investigated. It has been found that 1:1 (v/v) n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system cannot only realize the combination of solid–liquid extraction and liquid–liquid purification, but also result in the maximum yields of daidzein as well as total-isoflavones, compared to the common single-phase extracting solvents.

Introduction

Pueraria lobata (Willd.) Ohwi (kudzu vine) is a perennial, woody climber. The plant is highly valued for its medicinal properties and the main active compounds are isoflavones [1]. Isoflavones are a group of compounds having the aromatic heterocyclic skeleton of flavan, and their biochemical and pharmacological properties have been studied and reported [2], [3]. In China, so far only the root of P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi has been utilized in extraction processes to obtain total-isoflavones and starches, and the stem of the plant is generated as a waste. From an industrial viewpoint, it is important to find an efficient way to obtain isoflavones from stem of P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi.

Daidzein (Fig. 1), as a major isoflavone in P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, is receiving increasing attention due to its various health beneficial biological activities. Hence, a simple method for the large-scale extraction and separation of daidzein will be highly beneficial. There have been many reports on the extraction of daidzein from P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi for analytical purposes [4], [5], [6], [7]. However, low-cost process for purification of daidzein from the plant which could be applicable to industries, is still a challenging problem.

An integrated process based on simultaneous solid–liquid extraction and liquid membrane separation was proposed for recovery and isolation of valuable species from botanicals [8], [9]. The main advantages of the proposed process integration is the complete exhausting of the source material even in the case of very low solubility of the valuable component in the extracting solvent and the attained simultaneous purification of the product [9]. As the extract obtained by solid–liquid extraction from P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi contains a large amount of hydrophilic species and the content of daidzein in the extract is rather low, the further purification of daidzein is usually done by liquid–liquid extraction [10], [11]. Hence it would be highly advantageous if one could use an organic/water two-phase solvent system as a tool for extraction as well as purification. This will make the process economical and simple.

Keeping these points above in mind, in this study, we have developed an effective and industrially feasible method for extraction of isoflavones and separation daidzein from the stem of P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi, which uses n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system as the extractant.

Section snippets

Experimental material and apparatus

P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi stem was collected during the autumn in Xinchang County in Zhejiang Province, China. Samples were ground in a knife mill. Powdered samples were sieved to select particles of 20–40 mesh and stored at room temperature until used.

Ethanol (analytical reagent grade), n-butanol (analytical reagent grade) and deionized water were used as solvents. Methanol was HPLC grade. Daidzein and puerarin were bought from the National Institute for the Control of Pharmaceutical and

Effect of solvent type on the yield of total-isoflavones

The extraction yields of different solvents are shown in Fig. 4, Fig. 5. It can be found that 50% ethanol aqueous solution gave a four times higher yield of total-isoflavones than ethanol, and 1:1 (v/v) n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system gave a seven times higher than n-butanol. In all solvents, 1:1 (v/v) n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system resulted in the highest yield of total-isoflavones, which is slightly higher than 50% ethanol aqueous solution.

It is obvious that a

Conclusions

Daidzein was obtained by a novel process including extraction of isoflavones from the stem of P. lobata (Willd.) Ohwi using n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system, alumina column purification and recrystallization. It was found that the mono-component solvent system is not efficient for the extraction of total-isoflavones and an appropriate solvent mixture including single-phase and two-phase can improve the extraction yield. The 1:1 (v/v) n-butanol/water two-phase solvent system resulted in

Acknowledgements

The work is funded by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 20176049 and 20576113).

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High-performance thin-layer chromatographic fingerprints of isoflavonoids for distinguishing between Radix Puerariae Lobate and Radix Puerariae Thomsonii
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Integrated process of extraction and liquid membrane isolation of atropine from Atropa belladonna roots
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Separation and Purification Technology

Abstract

Introduction

Section snippets

Experimental material and apparatus

Effect of solvent type on the yield of total-isoflavones

Conclusions

Acknowledgements

References (15)

Kudzu root: an ancient Chinese source of modern antidipsotropic agents

Phytochemistry

Determination of puerarin, daidzein and rutin in Pueraria lobata (Wild.) Ohwi by capillary electrophoresis with electrochemical detection

J. Chromatogr. A

Quantification of major isoflavonoids and l-canavanine in several organs of kudzu vine (Pueraria montana) and in starch simples derived from kudzu roots

Plant Sci.

High-performance thin-layer chromatographic fingerprints of isoflavonoids for distinguishing between Radix Puerariae Lobate and Radix Puerariae Thomsonii

J. Chromatogr. A

Integrated process of extraction and liquid membrane isolation of atropine from Atropa belladonna roots

Sep. Purif. Technol.

Integration of solvent extraction and liquid membrane separation: an efficient tool for recovery of bio-active substances from botanicals

Chem. Eng. Sci.

Ultrasound-assisted extraction of soy isoflavones

J. Chromatogr. A

Cited by (34)

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Enhanced recovery of four antitumor ganoderic acids from Ganoderma lucidum mycelia by a novel process of simultaneous extraction and hydrolysis

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