Method for extraction of ethyl maltol from passion flower
A method for the extraction of natural ethyl maltol from passionflower plants is described. The plant material is extracted with a methanol based solvent and the natural ethyl maltol is recovered by column purification using a size exclusion purification column.
1. A method for ethyl maltol extraction and isolation comprising:
drying passionflower plant parts;
grinding the dried passionflower plant parts into a powder;
extracting the powder with a methanol solvent selected from the group consisting of: dried methanol; 90:10 methanol:water; and methanol, thereby providing an extract;
eluting ethyl maltol from the extract by size exclusion chromatographic column purification; and
recovering the eluted ethyl maltol, thereby providing isolated ethyl maltol.
2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the methanol is HPLC grade methanol.
3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the passionflower plant parts are herb tops.
4. The method according to claim 1 wherein the size-exclusion chromatographic column purification is carried out using size exclusion material having an opening of approximately 60 Angstroms.
5. The method according to claim 1 wherein the dried passionflower plant parts are extracted by refluxing.
6. The method according to claim 1 wherein the dried passionflower plant parts are extracted by refluxing for about 4 hours.