initial characterization of crude extracts from phyllanthus amarus

Plant material and solvent were agitated with a laboratory rotator at 30 rpm for three days
at room temperature, i.e. 18-23°C. The supernatant was filtered with Whatman filter
paper No. 4 and concentrated with blown air to 1ml (Muanza, 1995; Rugutt, 1996). The
concentrated liquid extracts were stored at 4°C (May 2002) until TLC analysis (May-
July, 2002).
Extraction Method Development
In order to determine the extraction rate, 10 grams of ground plant material of
both P. amarus and Q. amara was extracted with 100 ml (1:10, w/v) of the following
solvents: A, 50% methanol in D.D. water; B, 99% methanol; or C, 50% methanol in
chloroform. All solvents used were HPLC grade from Fisher Scientific Chemicals. Plant
material and solvent were agitated with an orbital shaker at 115 rpm for three days at
room temperature, i.e. 18-23°C. The supernatant was drained and the residue was rinsed
with 100 ml extraction solvent A, B, or C for 24 hours (Muanza, 1995; Vitányi et al.,
1997). The pooled extracts were filtered through Whatman No. 4 filter paper and
concentrated at 60 °C using a rotary evaporator. The weight of the powders of both P.
amarus and Q. amara were recorded. A summary of the extraction steps is given in
Figure 3.1.
Powder Production
Ground material (1.4 kg each) of P. amarus and Q. amara was extracted with 14 l
(1:10, w/v) methanol (B) by agitation with an orbital shaker at a speed of 115 rpm for 72
hours at room temperature, i.e. 18-23°C. The supernatant was drained and the residue
was rinsed with 14 l methanol for 24 hours. The pooled extracts were filtered through
Whatman No. 4 filter paper and concentrated at 60 °C using a rotary evaporator (Muanza,
1995; Vitányi et al., 1997).
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