Hydrotropic Extraction of Citral from Cymbopogon flexuosus (Steud.) Wats.

A novel technique for the extraction of citral from the leaves of Cymbopogon flexuosus (Steud.) Wats. using hydrotropic solutions (sodium salicylate and sodium cumene sulfonate) was investigated. The yield of citral was dependent on the concentration of hydrotrope, solid loading, temperature, and size of the plant material. Using the Taguchi method, the extraction was optimized, and both the hydrotropes gave the highest yield of citral at a concentration of 1.75 M, 5% solid loading, a temperature of 30 °C, and a size of 0.25 mm of the plant material. Sodium salicylate gave a better extraction yield of citral than sodium cumene sulfonate. The microscopic analysis of plant leaves provided insight into the extraction mechanism. A kinetic study was carried out to check the extraction efficiency for both the hydrotropes. The hydrotropic solution was successfully recycled. Using hydrotropic extraction, citral could be extracted under normal operating conditions, and the use of traditional organic solvents could be eliminated. As a simple and environmentally friendly technique, hydrotropic extraction could be utilized for the extraction of bioactive compounds from plants

Hydrotropic Antisolvent Crystallization for the Reduction in the Particle Size of Methylcobalamin

The active form of vitamin B12, methylcobalamin, is vital for normalizing neurological and hematological manifestations of B12 deficiency. Particle size reduction gives various advantages over larger particles, including increased surface area, improved biological activity, and greater penetration capacity, which could benefit medication. In the present study, hydrotropy and antisolvent crystallization have been combined to reduce the particle size of methylcobalamin along with the improved yield. Hansen solubility parameters (HSPs) have been utilized for selecting the solvent and antisolvent. For hydrotropic antisolvent crystallization (HAC), acetone, propan-1-ol, and resorcinol were selected as the antisolvent, solvent, and hydrotrope, respectively. Solubility enhancement by resorcinol and the effect of various parameters have been investigated. The three-level three-factor full factorial (FF) design has been employed to study the individual and interactive effects of the ratio of antisolvent to solvent (5–40 v/v), the rate of addition (5–20 mL/h), and methylcobalamin concentration (3–9.2 mg/mL) on particle size. The crystallized particles were characterized by various techniques to assess their structure, size, stability, and purity. The hydrotropic antisolvent crystallization has offered easy recovery of resorcinol and acetone. Finally, the greener aspects of the proposed method have been highlighted to showcase its sustainability

Extraction of starch and phenolic compounds from Mangifera indica L. var. Kesar seeds and its characterization

822-831The present study is aimed to examine the effect of various parameters (pH, solid to liquid ratio, extraction time and temperature) on starch content, total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity of extracts obtained from seed kernel of mango var. Kesar. Isolation of starch from mango kernel by employing the ethanol precipitation method has been assessed. Box-Behnken design has been used to develop, validate and optimize the statistical model in order to establish the impact of various parameters either alone or in combination followed by characterization of starch. A decrease in pH has increased the extraction of starch while other responses such as TPC and antioxidant activity did not show a significant variation. The yield of total phenolic compound has been improved with decrease in solid to liquid ratio by increasing the solvent volume. The optimum conditions have been found to be 2.5 pH, 24 min extraction time and 1:55 g/mL solid to liquid ratio. Under these conditions, the highest extraction yield of starch and TPC are found to be 13.93 g/100 g and 33.45 mg GAE/g, respectively. No significant variation in antioxidant activity has been observed. A better and value-added utilization of the waste material can tender environmentally sustainable and economically viable solution

Extraction of essential oil from Patchouli leaves using hydrodistillation: Parametric studies and optimization

Hydrodistillation has been employed for the extraction of essential oil from the leaves of patchouli plant. The yield of patchouli oil is dependent on solid loading, water volume, size of leaves and extraction time. The optimization of the process parameters has been performed using the Taguchi method while analysis of variance is used to identify the impact of parameters on the yield. The highest yield of patchouli oil (1.53%, w/w) is found at 30 g of solid loading, 900 mL of water volume, 4 mm size of the leaves and 150 min of extraction time. Among the parameters studied, extraction time had a greater impact on the yield of patchouli oil. Amount of patchoulol is maximum (64.9%) in the essential oil obtained under optimized conditions, thus, providing better quality of the essential oil

Extraction of essential oil from Patchouli leaves using hydrodistillation: Parametric studies and optimization

405-410Hydrodistillation has been employed for the extraction of essential oil from the leaves of patchouli plant. The yield of patchouli oil is dependent on solid loading, water volume, size of leaves and extraction time. The optimization of the process parameters has been performed using the Taguchi method while analysis of variance is used to identify the impact of parameters on the yield. The highest yield of patchouli oil (1.53%, w/w) is found at 30 g of solid loading, 900 mL of water volume, 4 mm size of the leaves and 150 min of extraction time. Among the parameters studied, extraction time had a greater impact on the yield of patchouli oil. Amount of patchoulol is maximum (64.9%) in the essential oil obtained under optimized conditions, thus, providing better quality of the essential oil

Perceptions, Attitudes, and Knowledge of Cannabis and its Use: A Qualitative Study among Herbal Heart Study Young Adult Cannabis Consumers in South Florida

Growing cannabis use among young adults in the United States surpasses research and public understanding, raising health concerns despite potential benefits. Limited research focuses on their knowledge, attitudes, risks, and motivations, especially in states with limited legalization. This study explores cannabis knowledge and attitudes among healthy young adult cannabis consumers to understand their risk and benefit perceptions. Data include a subsample of participants in the Herbal Heart Study, a cohort to examine subclinical cardiovascular risk among healthy young adult (18–35 years old) cannabis consumers and non-consumers. A qualitative thematic analysis of the interviews was performed using a deductive approach driven by the theory of the Health Belief Model to generate categories and codes. Dedoose was used to organize transcripts and coding. A total of 22 young adult cannabis consumers (M age = 25.3, SD = 4.4) were interviewed between May 5, 2021- September 23, 2022. Participants were predominantly female (n = 13) and Hispanic (n = 9) or non-Hispanic Black (n = 7). Five themes were identified: perceived health benefits and risks associated with cannabis use, motivation for cannabis use, knowledge of cannabis, and perceived barriers to cannabis use. Participants discussed knowledge, positive/negative attitudes toward cannabis, and perceived risks/benefits based on personal experience and gathered information. Some showed knowledge deficits, and most wanted more health-related cannabis research. Given the current climate of rising cannabis legalization, availability of novel cannabis products, and societal acceptance, further research and evidence-based cannabis literacy for young adults are essential to keep pace with liberalization trends