SUPERCRITICAL FLUID EXTRACTION OF TRITERPENOIDS FROM BIRCH BARK

摘要

The supercritical fluid extraction of birch bark was conducted. Among the triterpenoieds present in the matrix, we are particularly interested by betulinic acid and betulin. The goal of this work was to identify the optimal operating conditions in order to maximize the recovery of betulin and betulinic acid. It was well established that betulinic acid is a chemotherapeutic agent in the treatment of neuroectoderma! tumours and melanoma. Betulin is also an interesting compound, knowing it is a synthetic precursor of betulinic acid. Using binary and ternary mixtures, it was found that carbon dioxide - ethanol gives the maximum yield (29%) when the time extraction was six hours and 10% ethanol (on molar basis) was used.