Improvement of extraction yield of rutin from the flowerbuds of Styphnolobium japonicum L. by mechanochemistry

Abstract

A mechanochemical-assisted extraction method was developed to improve the extraction yield of rutin from the flowerbuds of Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) (Flos Styphnolobii japonici imaturi). Experimentally, milling the herbal materials with solid alkaline reagents not only reduced the particle size remarkably but also converted rutin into an easily water-soluble form. Accordingly, the extraction was estalished as follows: Alkaline solid reagent - Na₂CO₃; Alkaline agent/herb ratio - 15% (m/m); Milling time - 45 mins; Solvent - water; Solvent/herb ratio (v/m) - 25 mL/Gr; Extraction temperature - 25°C; Extraction time - 10 mins, extraction cycles - 2; and acidification - to pH 5. The highest extraction yield reached 318.7 mg/g (calculated on the dried weight of herb). Compared to other conventional extraction methods, the proposed extraction got higher yield and with great advantage in technical simplicity and practical economy, as well.