title: Supercritical carbon dioxide extraction of colchicine and related alkaloids from seeds of Colchicum autumnale L.
abstract: A method for the extraction of the alkaloids colchicine, 3-demethylcolchicine and colchicoside from seeds of Colchicum autumnale by supercritical carbon dioxide has been established. Several parameters such as pressure, temperature, percentage of modifier and extraction time have been examined. Two extraction steps with constant carbon dioxide density (0.90 g/mL) and flux (1.5 mL/min) were required to extract the alkaloids in 110 min using 3% methanol as modifier. The quantitative determination of the alkaloids was performed by HPLC; the percentages of recovery were higher than 98% for the three alkaloids. This extraction procedure was compared with a conventional method involving maceration and sonication, and the same levels of alkaloids were obtained in each case. The supercritical carbon dioxide method is, however, very efficient, more rapid and more environmentally friendly than conventional methods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Products, Plant Biology and Edaphology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Ernesto
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ellington
authors.forename: Jaume
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bastida
authors.forename: Francesc
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viladomat
authors.forename: Caries
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Codina
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000737:chemistry*; D025924:Chromatography, Supercritical Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D003078:Colchicine / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003079:Colchicum / Q000737:chemistry*; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D012639:Seeds / Q000737:chemistry*; D013696:Temperature; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D003078:Colchicine; D000432:Methanol