Author(s)

Sameer Al-Asheh, Mamdouh Allawzi, Awni Al-Otoom, Hussein Allaboun, Amani Al-Zoubi

Department of Chemical Engineering, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan.

A qualitative analysis of supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) of the medically useful compound, sage (Salvia officinalis) is presented in this study. Carbon dioxide was used as a supercritical solvent. Effects of operating conditions such as temperature, pressure, and extraction time were investigated. The effect of addition of cosolvents was also studied. The extracted useful compounds were identified and analyzed using GC-MS chromatography. The analysis of the extract obtained by SFE showed certain significant major compounds that are considered medically important. These major compounds are 1R-.alpha.-Pinene, D-Limonene, l-Camphene, and b-Pinene, and Eucalyptol. Although, there was no consistent trend with respect to the effect of the studied parameters on the composition of the extract, the selectivity of these major compounds are dependant on the operating conditions, manily the operating pressure. An increase in the pressure resulted in an increase in herb extraction yield; this is true for certain group of extracts, while the inverse is also true for other group of compounds. The effect of certain cosolvents on the extractability of sage showed a significant improvement of the yield of some particular constituents of sage.

Supercritical Extraction; CO₂; Serge; Ethanol

Al-Asheh, S. , Allawzi, M. , Al-Otoom, A. , Allaboun, H. and Al-Zoubi, A. (2012) Supercritical fluid extraction of useful compounds from sage. Natural Science, 4, 544-551. doi: 10.4236/ns.2012.48072.