Production of silymarin from Silybum marianum seeds includes defatting of powdered seeds with hydrocarbon solvent, extraction with acetonitrile and purification using dichloromethane

摘要

Silymarin is produced from Silybum marianum seeds by a process which includes removal of fats from powdered seeds in one step using a hydrocarbon solvent, extraction of the de-fatted powdered seeds with acetonitrile and purification of the product using dichloromethane. Production of silymarin (I) comprises: (a) cooling Silybum marianum seeds; (b) grinding the cooled seeds to a fine powder; (c) defatting the powdered seeds by extraction with a hydrocarbon solvent; (d) extracting the de-fatted seed powder with acetonitrile (MeCN) at 20-30 [deg] C; (e) concentrating the acetone extract; ) stirring the dry powder obtained with cold dichloromethane (CH2Cl2) at 5 [deg] C, filtering and drying while slowly flushing with nitrogen; (f) obtained in 5 times by weight of MeCN and adding 8-12 parts by weight of distilled water at 20-30 [deg] C; (g) suspending the (I); (h) removing the resulting precipitated (I) by filtration in a closed vacuum filter fitted with a 1-2 mu m sieve and washing the filter cake 3x with distilled water; and (i) drying the washed filter cake in a vacuum oven. - ACTIVITY : Hepatoprotective. - MECHANISM OF ACTION : Free radical scavenger.