Application of ionic liquids in the microwave-assisted extraction of polyphenolic compounds from medicinal plants

Ionic liquids (ILs) solutions as solvents were successfully applied in the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) of polyphenolic compounds from medicinal plants. ILs, its concentration and MAE conditions were investigated in order to extract polyphenolic compounds effectively from Psidium guajava Linn. (P. guajava) leaves and Smilax china (S. china) tubers. The results obtained indicated that the anions and cations of ILs had influences on the extraction of polyphenolic compounds as well as the ILs with electron-rich aromatic π-system enhanced extraction ability. Under the optimized conditions, the extraction yields of the polyphenolic compounds were in the range of 79.5-93.8% with one-step extraction, and meanwhile the recoveries were in the range of 85.2-103% with relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) lower than 5.6%. Compared to conventional extraction procedures, the results suggested that the proposed method was effective and alternative for the extraction of polyphenolic compounds from medicinal plants. In addition, the extraction mechanisms and the structures of samples before and after extraction were also investigated. ILs solutions as green solvents in the MAE of polyphenolic compounds from medicinal plant samples showed a great promising prospect.     

Application of ionic liquids in the microwave-assisted extraction of trans-resveratrol from Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati

In this paper, the application of 1-n-butyl -3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids aqueous solutions as solvents in the microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique was first developed for the extraction of trans-resveratrol from Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati. 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim]Br) solution was selected as solvent; the conditions of MAE including the size of sample, liquid/solid ratio, extraction temperature and time were optimized by means of an orthogonal design L(9)(3(4)). Under optimized conditions, the extraction yield value of trans-resveratrol was 92.8% in a one-step extraction. The recovery was in the range 93.7-103.2% with relative standard deviation lower than 3.0% by the proposed procedure. The method was applied to extract trans-resveratrol from several different region samples. On the basis of extraction solvent and time, the proposed extraction technique was a green, rapid and alternative technique to extract and analyze trans-resveratrol in Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati samples.     

Micelle-mediated extraction and preconcentration of ginsenosides from Chinese herbal medicine

The feasibility of employing micelle-mediated extraction as an alternative and effective method for the solubilization, purification and/or preconcentration of active ingredients from herbal products is demonstrated for the first time using the root of American ginseng as a model. When compared to methanol and water, an aqueous surfactant solution containing 10% Triton X-100 yielded faster kinetics and higher recovery for the extraction of various ginsenosides. An experimental design approach (uniform design) was demonstrated as a novel and useful method for the optimization of experimental factors involved in the micelle-mediated extraction process. For the preconcentration of ginsenosides prior to chromatographic determination, a salting-out agent (sodium sulfate) was employed to make the efficient cloud point extraction of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic ginsenosides into the surfactant-rich phase possible, as well as to increase the preconcentration factor by reducing the volume of the surfactant-rich phase.     

Application of ionic liquids based microwave-assisted simultaneous extraction of carnosic acid, rosmarinic acid and essential oil from Rosmarinus officinalis

An ionic liquid based microwave-assisted simultaneous extraction and distillation (ILMSED) method has been developed for the effective extraction of carnosic acid (CA), rosmarinic acid (RA) and essential oil (EO) from Rosmarinus officinalis. A series of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids differing in composition of anion and cation were evaluated for extraction yield in this work. The results obtained indicated that the anions and cations of ionic liquids had influences on the extraction of CA and RA, 1.0M 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C8mim]Br) solution was selected as solvent. In addition, the ILMSED procedures for the three target ingredients were optimized and compared with other conventional extraction techniques. ILMSED gave the best result due to the highest extraction yield within the shortest extraction time for CA and RA. The novel process developed offered advantages in term of yield and selectivity of EO and shorter isolation time (20 min in comparison of 4h of hydrodistillation), and provides a more valuable EO (with high amount of oxygenated compounds). The microstructures and chemical structures of rosemary samples before and after extraction were also investigated. Moreover, the proposed method was validated by the stability, repeatability and recovery experiments. The results indicated that the developed ILMSED method provided a good alternative for the both extraction of non-volatile compounds (CA and RA) and EO from rosemary as well as other herbs.     

ILs-based microwave-assisted extraction coupled with aqueous two-phase for the extraction of useful compounds from Chinese medicine

Ionic liquids-based microwave-assisted extraction (ILs-MAE) of medicinal or useful compounds from plants was investigated as an alternative to conventional organic solvent extractions. The extraction and the preconcentration of aqueous two-phase (ATP) systems have been integrated. Various operating parameters were systematically considered by single-factor and L(9) (3(4)) orthogonal array experiments. 1-Butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([bmim][BF(4)]) has been selected to extract Apocynum venetum. The extract was then converted to the top phase by [bmim][BF(4)]/NaH(2)PO(4) system which was suitable for the preconcentration. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with ultraviolet detection was employed for the analysis of hyperin and isoquercitrin in Apocynum venetum. The optimal experiment approach could provide higher detection limit of hyperin and isoquercitrin which were 3.82 μg L(-1) and 3.00 μg L(-1) in Apocynum venetum. The recoveries of hyperin and isoquercitrin were 97.29% (RSD = 1.02%) and 99.40% (RSD = 1.13%), respectively, from aqueous samples of Apocynum venetum by the proposed method. Moreover, the extraction mechanism of ILs-MAE and the microstructures and chemical structures of the herb before and after extraction were also investigated. The method exhibited potential applicability with other complicated samples.     

Application of ionic liquids based microwave-assisted extraction of three alkaloids N-nornuciferine, O-nornuciferine, and nuciferine from lotus leaf

The application of ionic liquids based microwave-assisted extraction (ILMAE) was successfully developed for extracting three alkaloids N-nornuciferine, O-nornuciferine, and nuciferine from lotus leaf. Seven kinds of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium with different cations and anions were investigated in this work and 1.0 M 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C₆MIM]Br) solution was selected as solvent. In addition, the microwave parameters including irradiation power, extraction time and solid-liquid ratio were optimized. Compared with the regular MAE and conventional heat-reflux extraction (HRE), the proposed approach exhibited higher efficiency (0.9-43.7% enhanced) and shorter extraction time (from 2 h to 2 min), which indicated ILMAE was an efficient, rapid and simple sample preparation technique. Moreover, the proposed method was validated by the linearity, reproducibility, and recovery experiments. Good linearity was observed with the regression coefficients (r²) between 0.9998 and 0.9999. The recoveries of all methods were in the range of 94.6% and 105.5% with RSD lower than 6.6%, which indicated that the proposed method was credible.     

Parallel microwave-assisted synthesis of ionic liquids and screening for denitrogenation of straight-run diesel feed by liquid-liquid extraction

Fifty-six ionic liquids were efficiently synthesized in parallel format under one-pot, solvent-free microwave-assisted synthesis. These compounds were evaluated as extracting agents of nitrogen-containing compounds from a real Diesel feed before being submitted to the hydrodesulfurization process to obtain ultralow sulfur Diesel. Our results showed that halogenated ionic liquids are an excellent alternative due to these ionic liquids are relatively inexpensive, presenting a high selectivity for the extraction of nitrogen-containing compounds and can be regenerated and recycled.     

Screening of ionic liquids for extraction of flavonoids from heather

Room temperature ionic liquids are novel solvents with the specific properties that makes them of interest for application for extraction for a wide range of compounds. In this work extraction efficiency of flavonoids from heather flowers using ionic liquids based on imidazolium cation were evaluated and compared with organic solvents. It was found that the anion of ionic liquid significantly influence the extraction yields. Flavonoid content as well as antioxidant activity based on radical scavenging on 1,1-diphenul-2-pirylhydrazyl radicals and cupric reducing antioxidant capacity increased in the order: [Bmim]PF₆ < [Bmim]BF₄ < [Bmim]Cl. The obtained extraction yield using [Bmim]Cl were higher than reported for 60% ethanol and ethyl acetate under similar conditions, thus, may be helpful for better utilization of heather flowers as the potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical ingredients.     

Application of ionic liquids for extraction and synthesis of organosulfur compounds

We consider the possible application of pyridinium ionic liquids to desulfurize hydrocarbon raw products and to transform the extracted toxic admixtures into promising sulfur compounds. Anodic oxidation of the extracted thiols as well as oxidation in the presence of electron mediators (N,N,N′,N′-tetramethyl-1,4-phenylenediamine, tri-p-bromophenylamine, and tri-p-tolylamine) leads to the corresponding disulfides.     

Supercritical fluid extraction and clean-up of organochlorine pesticides in Chinese herbal medicine

A method involving the simultaneous extraction and clean-up of 13 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) from Chinese herbal medicines (CHMs) was developed using supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) followed by gas chromatography-electron capture detection and mass spectrometric confirmation. The pesticides in the study consisted of alpha-, beta-, gamma-, and delta-benzene hexachloride, heptachlor, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, endosulfan I, 4,4'-DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethene), dieldrin, endrin, 4,4'-DDD (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane), endosulfan II, 4,4'-DDT (2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)1,1,1-trichloroethane), endrin aldehyde, and endosulfan sulfate. A series of experiments was conducted to optimize the final extraction conditions [pure CO2, 250 atm extraction pressure (1 atm = 101,325 Pa), 50 degrees C extraction temperature, 5 min static extraction time, 20 min dynamic extraction time, 2.0-g Florisil sorbent on top of 0.1-g samples, 12-ml n-hexane eluting at 1 ml/min, and a 10-ml extraction vessel]. Florisil sorbent was placed with the sample in the SFE vessel to provide a facile and effective clean-up approach. Mean recoveries of 78-121% with reproducibilities of 5-31% were obtained for the pesticides except for endosulfan II, endosulfan sulfate and endrin aldehyde. The simple and rapid method may be used to determine OCPs in CHMs routinely, and in fact, was used to analyze CHMs sold in Taiwan.     

Solid-phase extraction of room-temperature imidazolium ionic liquids from aqueous environmental samples

Owing to their favorable properties, ionic liquids have recently gained recognition as possibly environmentally benign solvents. Now among the most promising industrial chemicals, they have already been labeled green, but this appellation seems due entirely to their very low vapor pressure. This growing interest in the various applications of ionic liquids will soon result in their presence in the environment. Therefore, reliable analytical tools for the environmental analysis of ionic liquids need to be developed urgently. This paper presents a newly developed analytical procedure for the enrichment of 1-alkyl- and 1-aryl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids from water samples. The method is based on cation exchange solid-phase extraction followed by selective elution. Pre-concentrated samples are subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with an advanced methodology for qualitative and quantitative analysis. The overall procedure was verified by using standard spiked samples of tap water, seawater, and freshwater.     

Application of ionic liquids based enzyme-assisted extraction of chlorogenic acid from Eucommia ulmoides leaves

A new approach for ionic liquid based enzyme-assisted extraction (ILEAE) of chlorogenic acid (CGA) from Eucommia ulmoides is presented in which enzyme pretreatment was used in ionic liquids aqueous media to enhance extraction yield. For this purpose, the solubility of CGA and the activity of cellulase were investigated in eight 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids. Cellulase in 0.5 M [C6mim]Br aqueous solution was found to provide better performance in extraction. The factors of ILEAE procedures including extraction time, extraction phase pH, extraction temperatures and enzyme concentrations were investigated. Moreover, the novel developed approach offered advantages in term of yield and efficiency compared with other conventional extraction techniques. Scanning electronic microscopy of plant samples indicated that cellulase treated cell wall in ionic liquid solution was subjected to extract, which led to more efficient extraction by reducing mass transfer barrier. The proposed ILEAE method would develope a continuous process for enzyme-assisted extraction including enzyme incubation and solvent extraction process. In this research, we propose a novel view for enzyme-assisted extraction of plant active component, besides concentrating on enzyme facilitated cell wall degradation, focusing on improvement of bad permeability of ionic liquids solutions.     

Ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction of rutin from Chinese medicinal plants

An ionic liquid-based microwave-assisted extraction (ILMAE) method has been developed for the effective extraction of rutin from Chinese medicinal plants including Saururus chinensis (Lour.) Bail. (S. chinensis) and Flos Sophorae. A series of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different anions were investigated. The results indicated that the characteristics of anions have remarkable effects on the extraction efficiency of rutin and among the investigated ionic liquids, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([bmim]Br) aqueous solution was the best. In addition, the ILMAE procedures for the two kinds of medicinal herbs were also optimized by means of a series of single factor experiments and an L₉ (3⁴) orthogonal design. Compared with the optimal ionic liquid-based heating extraction (ILHE), marinated extraction (ILME), ultrasonic-assisted extraction (ILUAE), the optimized approach of ILMAE gained higher extraction efficiency which is 4.879 mg/g in S. chinensis with RSD 1.33% and 171.82 mg/g in Flos Sophorae with RSD 1.47% within the shortest extraction time. Reversed phase high performance liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) with ultraviolet detection was employed for the analysis of rutin in Chinese medicinal plants. Under the optimum conditions, the average recoveries of rutin from S. chinensis and Flos Sophorae were 101.23% and 99.62% with RSD lower than 3%, respectively. The developed approach is linear at concentrations from 42 to 252 mg L⁻¹ of rutin solution, with the regression coefficient (r) at 0.99917. Moreover, the extraction mechanism of ILMAE and the microstructures and chemical structures of the two researched samples before and after extraction were also investigated. With the help of LC-MS, it was future demonstrated that the two researched herbs do contain active ingredient of rutin and ionic liquids would not influence the structure of rutin.     

Microwave-assisted separation of ionic liquids from aqueous solution of ionic liquids

Microwave-assisted separation has been applied to recover ionic liquid (IL) from its aqueous solution as an efficient method with respect to time and energy compared to the conventional vacuum distillation. Hydrophilic ILs such as 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ([Bmim][BF(4)]), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ([Bmim][TfO]) and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium methylsulfate ([Emim][MS]) could be recovered in 6 min from the mixture of ILs and water (1:1, w/w) under microwave irradiation at constant power of 10 W while it took at least 240 min to obtain ILs containing same water content (less than 0.5 wt%) by conventional vacuum oven at 363.15 K with 90 kPa of vacuum pressure. Energy consumptions per gram of evaporated water from the homogeneous mixture of hydrophilic ILs and water (1:1, w/w) by microwave-assisted separation were at least 52 times more efficient than those in conventional vacuum oven. It demonstrated that microwave-assisted separation could be used for complete recovery of ILs in sense of time and energy as well as relevant purity.     

Ultrasonication-assisted extraction and preconcentration of medicinal products from herb by ionic liquids

Ionic liquid-based extraction of medicinal or useful compounds from plants was investigated as an alternative to supercritical fluid, cloud point and conventional organic solvent extractions. The method integrated extraction and preconcentration. Medicinal products were first extracted by an ionic liquid solution, part of which was then converted to a hydrophobic form by anion metathesis for preconcentration. The remaining soluble ionic liquid acted as a dispersive agent to enhance the efficiency of preconcentration. Protein in the extract was precipitated spontaneously without addition of further solvents. Ultrasonication assisted this method for extraction and preconcentration of cryptotanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone II A from Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge. 0.233 mg g⁻¹, 0.695 mg g⁻¹ and 0.682 mg g⁻¹ of each, respectively, were extracted using [OMIM][Cl], and preconcentrated in a [OMIM][PF₆] phase at respective concentrations of 148.1, 507.1 and 486.1 μg mL⁻¹. The method exhibited potential applicability with other medicinal products.     

Selective extraction of metals from mixed oxide matrixes using choline-based ionic liquids

The solubility of a range of metal oxides in a eutectic mixture of urea/choline chloride is quantified, and it is shown that the dissolved metals can be reclaimed from a mixed metal oxide matrix using electrodeposition.     

Application of non-ionic surfactant in the microwave-assisted extraction of alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis

The feasibility of employing non-ionic surfactant oligoethylene glycol monoalkyl ether (Genapol X-080) as an alternative and effective solvent for the microwave-assisted extraction of alkaloids from Rhizoma Coptidis was demonstrated. When compared with commonly used solvents, 5% Genapol X-080 enhanced the extraction efficiency. Under optimal conditions, i.e. 5% acidified Genapol X-080 (v/v), microwave-assisted extraction for 10 min at 100 °C, the extraction recovery of alkaloids reached 92.8% in a one-step extraction. The efficiency of cloud-point preconcentration of three alkaloids was in the range 93.6-94.7% with relative standard deviation lower than 3.3% by the proposed procedure. Furthermore, the combination of microwave-assisted extraction and cloud-point extraction was shown to be a green, rapid and effective approach for alkaloids preconcentration of Rhizoma Coptidis samples.     

离子液体在有机反应中的应用

室温离子液体，由含氮的有机阳离子和无机阴离子组成，可溶解各种有机、无 机、金属有机化合物。它们没有蒸气压、不易燃、容易循环使用。近年已发现，离 子液体可广泛地用于许多过渡金属化合物和酶催化的反应。着重讨论这方面的发展 状况。     

Intermittent counter-current extraction as an alternative approach to purification of Chinese herbal medicine

This paper describes intermittent counter-current extraction, a novel method of using a conventional twin column counter-current chromatograph to either split a sample into two groups of compounds or extract and enrich a target compound from a crude extract. The first method is demonstrated by splitting a model mixture of four compounds into two groups. The second method is demonstrated by the extraction and enrichment of a high value target compound, triptolide, from a Chinese herbal medicine crude extract of Tripterygium wilfordii Hook. f., where it is found at low concentration (2%). This was achieved by retaining and enriching the target compound within the column while washing away all other components of the crude material. The success of the first method allowed the second method to be carried out without the need for costly preliminary experiments with the high value sample. 188 mg of triptolide at greater than 98% purity was separated from 9.2 g of crude extract, using 10 l of solvent in a 3-h separation.     

吡啶类离子液体在汽油萃取脱硫中的应用研究

利用合成的六种吡啶类离子液体,N-丁基吡啶硝酸盐离子液体([BPy]NO3),N-乙基吡啶硝酸盐离子液体([EPy]NO3),N-丁基吡啶四氟硼酸盐离子液体([BPy]BF4),N-乙基吡啶四氟硼酸盐离子液体([EPy]BF4)、N-乙基吡啶乙酸盐([EPy]Ac)、N-丁基吡啶乙酸盐([BPy]Ac),进行了汽油萃取脱硫的应用研究。结果表明,[BPy]BF4的脱硫效果最好,[EPy]BF4的脱硫效果最差。[BPy]BF4对模型化合物单程脱硫率达到45.5％,可以有效地脱除汽油中的含硫化合物,使用过的离子液体可以通过真空加热或用四氯化碳反萃取再生。