Comparative Evaluation of Different Extraction Techniques for Separation of Artemisinin from Sweet Wormwood (<i>Artemisia annua</i> L.)

Sweet wormwood (<i>Artemisia annua</i> L.) valorization is gaining importance due to the presence of the health-promoting bioactive compound, artemisinin. Considering the wide possible application of artemisinin drug formulations, new, greener technologies in their production are welcome...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Marija Banožić, Aleksandra Weronika Wronska, Martina Jakovljević Kovač, Krunoslav Aladić, Igor Jerković, Stela Jokić
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-05-01
Series:Horticulturae
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2311-7524/9/6/629
Description
Summary:Sweet wormwood (<i>Artemisia annua</i> L.) valorization is gaining importance due to the presence of the health-promoting bioactive compound, artemisinin. Considering the wide possible application of artemisinin drug formulations, new, greener technologies in their production are welcome. In this study, artemisinin was extracted from <i>A. annua</i> leaves using green extraction technologies (ultrasound-assisted extraction, supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> extraction, deep eutectic solvent extraction and subcritical water extraction) in combination with green solvents. Artemisinin was present up to 3.21 µg/mg<sub>dw</sub>. Among the different green extraction techniques, HPLC data revealed supercritical CO<sub>2</sub> (SCO<sub>2</sub>) extracts to exhibit the highest yield of artemisinin due to the solvent non-polar properties. Additionally, the volatile compounds profile of SCO<sub>2</sub> extract was determined, with camphor (12.23%), arteannuin b (15.29%) and artemisia ketone (10.97%) as the most abundant compounds. Obtained results encourage the use of green extraction techniques for the separation of artemisinin and are expected to find potential in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food applications.
ISSN:2311-7524