Water Extraction of Bioactive Compounds: From Plants to Drug Development (PDF)

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. The book is a detailed guide to the fundamental concepts and necessary equipment needed to successfully undertake such processes, supported by application examples and highlighting the most influential variables.

Part 1 begins with a thorough introduction to plants as sources of drugs, highlighting strategies for the discovery of novel bioactive constituents of botanicals, the need for standardization and a move toward more rational and greener techniques in the field, the development of plant-based extraction processes and pretreatments for the efficient extraction. Part 2 then reviews a broad range of available techniques, including sections on conventional hot water extraction and pressurized hot water extraction in a range of settings. Intensified processes are then discussed in detail, including sections on microwave-assisted processes, ultrasound-assisted processes and enzyme assisted extraction.

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