Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development

Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development draws together the expert knowledge of researchers from around the world to outline the essential knowledge and techniques required to successfully extract bioactive compounds for further study. The book is a practical tool for medicinal chemists, biochemists, pharmaceutical scientists and academics working in the discovery and development of drugs from natural sources.

The discovery and extraction of bioactive plant compounds from natural sources is of growing interest to drug developers, adding greater fuel to a simultaneous search for efficient, green technologies to support this. Particularly promising are aqueous based methods, as water is a cheap, safe and abundant solvent. Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development is a detailed guide to the fundamental concepts and considerations needed to successfully undertake such processes, supported by application examples and highlighting the most influential variables.

Beginning with an introduction to plants as sources of drugs, the book highlights the need for a move towards both more rational and greener techniques in the field, and presents multiple innovative water-based strategies for the discovery and extraction of bioactive constituents of botanicals. A broad range of available techniques are reviewed, including conventional and pressurized hot water extraction techniques, intensified processes such as microwave-assisted, ultrasound-assisted processes, and enzyme assisted extraction, and processes using combined techniques.

Covers the theoretical background and range of techniques available to researchers, helping them to select the most appropriate extraction method for their needsPresents up-to-date and cutting edge applications by international expertsHighlights current use and future potential for industrial scale applicationsOffers a thorough introduction to plants as sources of drugs, highlighting strategies for the discovery of novel bioactive constituents of botanicals

1. Introduction 2. Production of amino and organic acids from protein using sub-critical water technology 3. Hydrolysis of biopolymers in near critical and subcritical water 4. Subcritical water extraction and neoformation of antioxidants 5. Depolymerization and extraction of oligosaccharides from agroindustrial wastes 6. Microwave-assisted Water Extraction 7. Microwave superheated water of arabinoxylooligosaccharides 8. Microwave-assisted extraction of flavonoids 9. Microwave-assisted extraction of betalains 10. Microwave-assisted hydrothermal degradation of silk protein to amino acids 11. Fundamentals of Ultrasound assisted extraction 12. Ultrasound-assisted extraction of bioactive carbohydrates 13. Enzyme assisted aqueous extraction processes 14. Enzyme aided extraction of phenolic compopunds 15. Silymarin Extraction from Silybum marianum L. Gaertner 16. Potential of novel technologies for the aqueous extraction of plant bioactives 17. Combination of water based extraction technologies