Planta Med 2012; 78 - PJ90
DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1321250

Optimization of the microwave assisted-extraction of ricinine from Ricinus communis

L Nebo 1, RM Varela 2, M Palma 3, JMG Molinillo 2, CG Barroso 3, CM Cazal 1, JB Fernandes 1, FA Macías 2
  • 1Departamento de Química – Universidade Federal de São Carlos, SP, Zip Code 13565–905, Brazil
  • 2Departamento de Química Orgánica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Zip Code 11510, Spain
  • 3Departamento de Química Analítica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Cádiz, Zip Code 11510, Spain

Ricinus communis (Euphorbiaceae) is distributed over many tropical areas. It is an exotic plant found in all regions of Brazil. It was described as a toxic plant to the leaf-cutting ants (Atta sexdens rubropilosa) due to the presence of the alkaloid ricinine found in its leaves and flowers. The microwave assisted-extraction (MAE) was used as an alternative to conventional methods used in the extraction of ricinine. To develop the process of extraction, an experimental design with some variables were studied: temperature, solvents (ethyl acetate, methanol and water), power: 500–1000W, solvent volume, sample amount and extraction time. The most influent variables on the extraction of ricinine by MAE were extraction temperature and solvent. The optimized extraction conditions for quantitative recoveries were: 1000W, 175°C, 5 minutes and 10% ethyl acetate/methanol as extracting solvent. No degradation of ricinine was observed using the developed method.