Process for extracting oleanolic acid from plant material

摘要

A process for extracting oleanolic acid from plant material is disclosed. Dried plant material is provided and an extraction process is carried out with a non-halogenated polar to medium polar solvent. The resulting solution that contains oleanolic acid is separated from the plant material and the solvent is removed using cooling, vacuum-evaporation or other techniques. A precipitate is formed that contains mostly oleanolic acid. Subsequent purification steps to provide highly purified oleanolic acid include washing techniques, re-crystallization techniques or the use of chromatography.