Echinacea pallida Extract Purification via Dual Solvent Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Echinacea extracts, particularly those from Echinacea angustifolia, have high alkylamide content and residual solvent issues, which pose toxicity concerns and complicate the extraction process, making them unsuitable for safe use in food and pharmaceutical applications.
Innovation Solution
An Echinacea pallida extract with an alkylamide content less than 0.05% and a polysaccharide content of at least 30% by weight, obtained through a process involving hot hydroalcoholic solvent extraction and hot water extraction, followed by concentration and drying with maltodextrin and silica, to produce a purer and safer form for use in nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, and cosmetic compositions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If conventional extraction methods are used to obtain Echinacea extracts, then the extraction process becomes complex with multiple washing steps, but this results in residual solvent contamination and high alkylamide content
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes alkylamides from the Echinacea extract through specific purification steps, including washing with water and organic solvents, and using activated carbon filtration. This extraction of harmful components achieves high purity (alkylamide content <0.05%) while managing process complexity through systematic removal steps
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes extraction parameters by using specific solvent systems (hydroalcoholic mixtures with controlled ethanol concentrations), adjusting pH levels, and controlling temperature conditions to selectively extract desired compounds while leaving alkylamides behind, thereby achieving purity without excessive process complexity
2Reliability
If Echinacea extracts with high alkylamide content are used, then immunomodulating properties are enhanced, but toxicity concerns arise due to high lipophilicity and tissue accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the potential harm of alkylamides into a benefit by selectively removing them while preserving the beneficial immunomodulating compounds. The purification process transforms a potentially toxic extract into a safe product with <0.05% alkylamide content, maintaining therapeutic efficacy without toxicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses intermediary substances such as activated carbon, water, and organic solvents as mediators to selectively interact with and remove alkylamides from the extract. These intermediaries facilitate the separation of harmful alkylamides from beneficial compounds, achieving safety while preserving immunomodulating properties
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple washing steps with solvents are performed to reduce alkylamide content, then purity improves, but solvent residues remain trapped in the final product
Solution Approach 1:
The patent systematically extracts and removes solvent residues through multiple washing steps with water and organic solvents, followed by drying processes. This extraction of residual solvents achieves high purity (alkylamide content <0.05%) while minimizing solvent contamination through thorough purification
Solution Approach 2:
The patent discards harmful solvent residues through systematic removal steps while recovering and reusing certain solvents in the extraction process. The purification sequence eliminates residual solvents from the final product, achieving purity without leaving harmful traces
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The Echinacea pallida extract effectively reduces the risk of alkylamide toxicity and solvent residues, enabling safer use in food and pharmaceutical applications while maintaining immunomodulatory properties, as demonstrated by its anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory activities in vitro.
Implementation Method 1
extraction of the fraction containing echinacoside by hot mixing Echinacea pallida roots in hydroalcoholic solvent
Implementation Method 2
extraction of the fraction containing polysaccharides by mixing Echinacea pallida root in hot water
Implementation Method 3
drying by means of one of the methods known from the technical practice, preferably in a fluidized bed granulator
Data Source
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AI summary
It is described an Echinacea pallida extract having an alkylamide content < 0.05%, an echinacoside content ≥ 2%, a total polysaccharide content ≥ 30% and a polysaccharide content with an average weight molecular weight higher than or equal to 12.000 Da, ≥ 5%. This extract is obtained with a process comprising the following steps: a) extraction of the fraction containing echinacoside by hot mixing Echinacea pallida roots in hydroalcoholic solvent, b) small volume concentration of the solvent of the mixture from the previous step until obtaining a soft extract with a concentration between 20° Bx and 40° Bx, c) extraction of the fraction containing polysaccharides by mixing Echinacea pallida root in hot water, d) small volume concentration of water until obtaining a soft extract with a concentration between 20° Bx and 40° Bx, e) union of the two soft extracts obtained in steps b) and d) and drying with one of the methods known from the technical practice. This extract is used in pharmaceutical, nutraceutical, cosmetic or food compositions.