Teor de pilocarpina em extratos das folhas de jaborandi (pilocarpus microphyllus stapf ex wardleworth) obtidos via extração supercrítica

Abstract

Pilocarpus microphyllus Stapf ex Wardleworth, known as jaborandi, is one of the few natural sources of alkaloid pilocarpine, which is obtained through aggressive methodologies to the environment. Thus, there is a need for scientific research to obtain this compound without pleasing the environment, such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE). In the development of this research, SFE was performed by CO2 and CO2 + EtOH, which were conducted with 40 and 60 ºC at 200, 290, and 420 bar pressure. The use of cosolvent and the increase in the pressure and temperature increased the mass yield and the polar compounds contents, such as pilocarpine and phenolic compounds. The highest values of mass yield (4.78±0.38%), pilocarpine content (2.37±0.02 % wt of pilocarpine/wt of extract x 100), and phenolic compounds content (173.67±1.5 mg GAE/g of extract) were obtained at the same condition (60 ºC/420 bar with CO2 + 10 % EtOH). The only difference was found in the antioxidant activity, which achieved its best performance at 40 ºC/ 200 bar with CO2 + 10 % EtOH, however, it achieved its most promising results in the samples obtained with cosolvent, as well as the best results in mass yield, pilocarpine content, and phenolic compounds content. The extraction condition with the highest pilocarpine content was used to perform the kinetics and the curve obtained was adjusted in the Sovová (2012) model, showing a good fit.