Digital Commons Network^™

Extraction Of Silymarin Compounds From Milk Thistle (Silybum Marianum) Seed Using Hot, Liquid Water As The Solvent, J. F. Alvarez Barreto, D. Julie Carrier, E. C. Clausen

Discovery, The Student Journal of Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences

High-value specialty chemicals are usually obtained from natural products by extracting with generally regarded as safe (GRAS) solvents. Because organic solvents are quite often used, high operating and disposal costs occur. When compared to traditional solvents, water is an interesting alternative because of its low operating and disposal costs. Milk thistle contains compounds (taxifolin, silychristin, silydianin, silybinin A, and silybinin B) that display hepatoxic protection properties. This paper examines the batch extraction of silymarin compounds from milk thistle seed meal in 50°C, 70°C, 85°C and 100°C water as a function of time. For taxifolin, silychristin, silybinin A, and silybinin B, …