A student of mine is doing her thesis and needs to perform alkaloid extraction from a set of officinal drugs and has asked me for the best way to perform it. Now, the two main methods I can think of for an elemental extraction process are Soxhlent and steam distillation.
The only rotovapor in the lab is currently broken, which means the excess of solvent must be disposed of in some other way. The final result doesn't have to be particularly pure, but it should be free of solvent residue (suited for animal testing).
What do you suggest between the two methods?
Thank you
Alkaloids tend to be basic. Try this procedure:
Dear sir,
I just wanted to know that how you have taken the option of steam distillation, as the alkaloids are basic in nature and are non-volatile. Only volatile type of components, like terpenes could be isolated through steam distillation. Can you please share your though on this?
As per my knowledge, for the alkaloid extraction, refluxing/ maceration/ soxhlet's extraction is followed, that too will be specific to type of alkaloid (As alkaloids are having broad category of the compounds).
Initially, we liberate the free alkaloid base by exposure of the sample with alkaline medium so that the alkaloidal salts are converted into free bases. Then the extraction of alkaloidal base with organic solvent is to be done. After that purification of crude alkaloidal extract and then, fractionation of crude alkaloids. This way, the alkaloids will be extracted.
Sir, Please respond with your ideas.
Thank you.
Hi Sir , Leopoldo Orsini Corvetti
Having alkaline alkaloids is present in salt form in the plant, so choose water or acidic water to extract them. Usually, inorganic acidic extraction is used, so that the organic acid of alkaloids salt is replaced inorganic acid salt, and increasing its solubility. Acid extraction method usually use 0.1% to 1% sulfuric acid, hydrochloric acid or acetic acid, tartaric acid solution as a solvent, by dipping method or percolation extraction, the individual who has less starchy use boiling method .
Sir generally we used stas otto method , an well documented method for alkaloid extraction
You can follow this blog for reference
Thank U sir
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Debanjan_Chatterjee4/post/What-is-the-best-method-for-alkaloid-extraction/attachment/5faba9dac4a923000101dcd6/AS%3A956612739088388%401605085658885/download/GeneralMethodsofExtractionandIsolationofAlkaloids.pdf
Heena Jindal steam distillation is mainly used for oily compounds extraction. For instance, the essential oils present in many officinal plants are extracted with this method.
For alkaloids extraction I see it as a sub-optimal methodology that should be discouraged in favour of better alternatives.
Jack Silver I will be using the extracted alkaloids for tests on organic tissue, I prefer the extraction method not to leave any trace of a cytotoxic solvent like DMC.
Debanjan Chatterjee thanks for the resource I'll take a look
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