Study and optimization of berberine extraction conditions from barberry root by supercritical carbon dioxide

Abstract

Extraction of bioactive materials from herbal plants may be interesting due to the growing trend of using herbal remedies instead of chemical ones. The aim of present study is to optimize the conditions of Berberine extraction from roots of Berberis Vulgaris by supercritical CO2. The dependency of Berberine extraction yield on extraction parameters, time and pressure, was studied by Response surface Methodology. The effective factors on the extraction yield and adequacy of proposed model was investigated according to the experimental data and statistical analysis. The correlation coefficient (R2 = 92.71 %( showed that about 93% of all alternatives can be explained by this experimental model. Pressure has the most influence on yield of extracted berberine and the interaction term of Time –Pressure is statistically significant on the berberine yield. Using supercritical CO2 method with pressure in the range of 300-400 bars and the time in the range of 40-75 minutes would lead to the maximum of berberine extraction (more than 400 µg/gr). Finally, yield of berberine extraction by SFE has been compared with traditional method (Soxhlet) and the strengths and weaknesses of this novel method have been considered.

Keywords

• berberine
• berberis vulgaris
• extraction
• response surface methodology
• supercritical co2