You could use supercritial CO2 extraction granted your compound/s is nonpolar. You just need dry ice, 50mL VWR tube, and a warm water bath, Just be careful because the increase pressure can cause the cap to pop off.
Dear Sony,
The choice of methodology for grinding depends on the particle size and expected texture of the plant material. If the plant material includes stems, leaves and bark, you may want to start with an electric blender. Although, this will grind the particles, the pulverized plant material may not give a fine texture, hence you may want to use a mill to further grind the particles. However if a mill is not at your disposal, you can improvise with a mortar and pestle.
For extraction of phytochemicals, pulverized plant material, can be soaked in polar solvent such as ethanol, methanol and others may be used depending on the phytochemical of interest. This can be extracted with the application of heat or by regular agitation for a longer time.
For preliminary phytochemical screening, methods outlined in Trease and Evans (2002) may be helpful, although there may be better methodologies.
"Trease GE, Evans WC. Trease and Evans Pharmacognosy. 15th edition. W.B. Saunder Edinburgh London, New York: Philadelphia, St. Louis Sydney Toronto. 2002; 42-393."
For Microbial population study: PCR
Method in use depends on the nature of the plant material: seed, leaf, stem, root, fruit etc. Most times, you can pulverize using a blender, gratter (if hard seed) or any other method. For extraction, in other not to miss out both polar and non polar chemicals, you can extract using polar solvent and re-extract using non polar solvent. In this method, you will be able to obtain chemicals in different ranges.
Dear Sony,
The ultimate aim of grinding plant material is to get fine particles that will ensure maximum contact with solvents you will use for extraction. To this end you may consider using an electric blender first to give you a coarse powder(especially if you are investigating whole plants). Therafter,you may follow up by triturating the coarse powder in a mortar by use of a pestle.
Hello Sony
If you want to isolate antimicrobial active component from plant than I must suggest the morter & pestle with liquid nitrogen treatment might be a better approach. As when I'm working in this field, I found that various phytochemical thous shows good antimicrobial properties is heat-labile ! Thus any process which generates heat must be avoided !! But if you can do both that will be a better opportunity for comparative study and validation of both the protocol...
With Regards,
Priyanka
Dear Sony,
If you want to avoid heat during extraction, you might prefer percolation method. As Augustine Anayochukwu Onyeaghala said extracting the plant material with polar solvents and re-extracting with non-polar solvents would help to isolate and identify varied compounds.
Regards..
Hello Sony
If you want to isolate antimicrobial active component from plant than I must suggest the morter & pestle with liquid nitrogen treatment might be a better approach. I found that various phytochemical thous shows good antimicrobial properties is heat-labile ! Thus any process which generates heat must be avoided !! But if you can do both that will be a better opportunity for comparative study and your work.
With Regards,
There is no difference. You can use any . Only the thing you should take care during grinding temp. of material should not rise. If your plant material is roots or main stem (trunk), then you should cut it in small pieces in a way that your grinder should not get damaged and also maintain the temp rise during grinding.
Dear seacher
to ground plant material there is three step process : drying, grinding and sifting then to obtain powders and to make plant extract
there many methodst for extracting phytochemicals (alkaloids, polyphenols, essential oils ect there many aquous extracts are use as antimicrobial
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