AN IMPROVED PROCESS FOR THE SIMULTANEOUS PRODUCTION OF ARTEMISININ AND ESSENTIAL OIL FROM THE PLANT ARTEMISIA ANNUA

摘要

This invention relates to an improved process for the simultaneous production of essential oil and artemisinin from the plant Artemisia annua which comprises (i) extracting dried aerial part of A. annua plant with a non polar organic solvent, (ii) partitioning the above extract with water miscible organic solvent in liquid-liquid extraction column for a time range of 3-6 hours, (iii) obtaining essential oil containing residue by concentrating organic phase and artemisinin by concentrating water miscible organic phase, (iv) purifying artemisinin by conventional chromatographic method and hydrodistilling the essential oil residue