Nokkosen uuttaminen – Tehokkaat tinktuurat ultraäänellä
Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a plant rich in bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, antioxidants, carotenes, and terpenoids, which are used as pharmaceutical, therapeutic and nutraceutical substances. The ultrasonic extractor is a high-efficient industry-established tool for the production of nettle extracts of superior quality.
The Benefits of Ultrasonic Nettle Extracts
Nettle leaves, flowers and stems contain a wide variety of bioactive compounds, which are used for their medicinal and therapeutic effects. Since it often would require to consume large amounts of the nettle plant in order to get the desired effects, nettle extracts are a more viable and consumer-friendly method of administration. Nettle extracts, e.g. in form of concentrates or tinctures, are an efficacious option to ingest the full spectrum of phytochemicals in a highly potent form.
Ultrasonic extraction is a mild, yet highly efficient technique to produce nettle extracts, e.g. in form of an alcoholic or water-based extract. These ultrasonically produced extracts offer a significantly stronger and more concentrated effect when compared to traditional concoctions such as single extracted compounds, macerated extracts or teas.
Solvents for Ultrasonic Nettle Extraction
For an efficient extraction of bioactive compounds from fresh or dried nettle leaves, mild non-toxic solvents such as water, aqueous ethanol or ethanol are most commonly used. Depending on the downstream processing (e.g. extract concentration by rotor-evaporation or distillation), ethanol or aqueous ethanol with higher ethanol ratio might be favorable due to the lower evaporation enthalpy of alcohol.
Case Studies: Ultrasonic Nettle Extraction Scientifically Proven
Šic Žlabur et al. (2022) investigated the effects of ultrasonic extraction as a green extraction technology. Since ultrasound-assisted extraction is characterized by high efficiency of phytochemical extraction, shorter treatment time, and a much lower environmental footprint, is a suitable and sustainable solution. In order to determine the influence of the extraction method, conventional and ultrasound (by varying two ultrasound equipment systems), time and ethanol concentration were compared regarding the extraction of specialized metabolites from nettle leaf powder. Ultrasonic extraction using a probe system, so-called probe-type sonicator or ultrasonic immersion homogenizer, significantly contributed to increase the ascorbic acid yield, polyphenolic compounds, and antioxidant capacity of nettle extracts compared to conventional extraction. In addition, with ultrasonic probe system required significantly less time for isolation of individual specialized metabolites compared to ultrasonic extraction in the ultrasonic bath. Therefore the research study comes to the conclusion that extraction with the ultrasonic probe is much more efficient in obtaining higher yields of specialized metabolites from nettle powder in a shorter time (average process duration 5–10 min) both compared to an ultrasonic bath and traditional solid-liquid solvent extraction.
Click here to learn more about the advantages of probe-type sonicators over ultrasonic baths (cleaning tanks)!
Florez et al. (2022) describe the advantages of ultrasonic extraction over alternative extraction methods as follows: “Traditional procedures, such as Soxhlet extraction, reflux, and maceration extraction take a long time, consume a lot of solvent, and may cause thermolabile chemicals to degrade due to the higher temperatures utilized. In recent years, other techniques have begun to be used, such as ultrasound-assisted extraction. This process allows greater penetration by the solvent into the materials to be extracted, improving mass transfer thanks to the effects of the micro-streaming. Therefore, this technique is considered an efficient extraction process that has benefits, such as reduced time, increased yields, or low temperature. It often improves the quality of the extract.”
Find Best Sonicator for Your Extraction Process
How do you select the ideal sonicator for your botanical extraction process, e.g., producing potent extracts from nettle leaves? Extracting phytochemicals from botanicals like stinging nettle requires precision and efficiency. Selecting the right probe-type sonicator is crucial for achieving optimal extraction yields, whether on a small laboratory scale or in large-scale industrial processes.
Our well-trained and long-time experienced staff appropriate probe-type sonicator will help you to select to most suitable sonicator enabling you for efficient and reproducible extraction of phytochemicals from botanicals like stinging nettle. Features such as amplitude control, process monitoring, easy operation and safety make Hielscher sonicators the preferred extraction equipment of researchers and industry professionals. Hielscher sonciators enables you to obtain optimized extraction results with outstanding efficiency and quality. Unlock the full potential of botanical resources while ensuring operational reliability and product quality using the power of ultrasound!
- korkea hyötysuhde
- Uusinta teknologiaa
- luotettavuus & rotevuus
- säädettävä, tarkka prosessinohjaus
- erä & Inline
- mille tahansa tilavuudelle
- Älykäs ohjelmisto
- älykkäät ominaisuudet (esim. ohjelmoitava, dataprotokolla, kaukosäädin)
- Helppo ja turvallinen käyttää
- vähän huoltoa vaativa
- CIP (puhdas paikan päällä)
Suunnittelu, valmistus ja konsultointi – Laatu valmistettu Saksassa
Hielscher-ultraääniastiat ovat tunnettuja korkeimmista laatu- ja suunnittelustandardeistaan. Kestävyys ja helppokäyttöisyys mahdollistavat ultraäänilaitteidemme sujuvan integroinnin teollisuuslaitoksiin. Hielscher-ultraäänilaitteet käsittelevät helposti karkeita olosuhteita ja vaativia ympäristöjä.
Hielscher Ultrasonics on ISO-sertifioitu yritys ja painottaa erityisesti korkean suorituskyvyn ultraäänilaitteita, joissa on huipputeknologia ja käyttäjäystävällisyys. Tietenkin, Hielscher-ultraäänilaitteet ovat CE-yhteensopivia ja täyttävät UL: n, CSA: n ja RoHs: n vaatimukset.
Alla oleva taulukko antaa sinulle viitteitä ultraäänilaitteidemme likimääräisestä käsittelykapasiteetista:
Erän tilavuus | Virtausnopeus | Suositellut laitteet |
---|---|---|
0.5 - 1.5 ml | n.a. | VialTweeter | 1 - 500 ml | 10 - 200 ml / min | UP100H |
10 - 2000ml | 20–400 ml/min | UP200Ht, UP400St |
0.1 - 20L | 0.2–4 l/min | UIP2000hdT |
10-100L | 2 - 10L / min | UIP4000hdT |
15-150L | 3 - 15L / min | UIP6000hdT |
n.a. | 10-100L / min | UIP16000 |
n.a. | suurempi | klusteri UIP16000 |
Ota yhteyttä! / Kysy meiltä!
Kirjallisuus / Viitteet
- Kruk, Valentina; Jurković,Marijana; Repajić, Maja; Žutić, Ivanka; Zorić, Zoran; Dragović-Uzelac, Verica (2019): The Influence Of Ultrasound Assisted Extraction On The Isolation Of Bioactive Compounds From Nettle Leaves. ICAPP – 1st International Conference for Advanced Production and Processing; 2019.
- Kurek, Mia; Repajic, Maja; Ščetar, Mario; Radošević, Lea; Pedisić, Sandra; Pelaić, Zdenka; Levaj, Branka; Galić, Kata (2022): Physical, Chemical and Sensory Characterization of Deep-Fried Fresh-Cut Potatoes Coated with Hydrocolloid/Herbal Extracts. Food Technology and Biotechnology, Vol. 60, No. 4, 2022.
- Flórez, M.; Cazón, P.; Vázquez, M. (2022): Antioxidant Extracts of Nettle (Urtica dioica) Leaves: Evaluation of Extraction Techniques and Solvents. Molecules 2022, 27, 6015.
- Šic Žlabur J., Radman S., Opacic N.., Rašic A., Dujmovic M., Brncic M., Barba F.J., Castagnini J.M., Voca S. (2022): Application of Ultrasound as Clean Technology for Extraction of Specialized Metabolites From Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica L.). Frontiers in Nutrition 2022.
Faktoja, jotka kannattaa tietää
Phytochemicals in Nettle
From a medicinal, pharmacological, and nutritional perspective, the leaves of stinging nettle are rich in health-promoting bioactive compounds and metabolites. Moreover, extracts derived from nettles find application in cosmetic formulations attributable to their antioxidant, soothing, and antimicrobial properties.
Stinging nettle leaves contain numerous bioactive molecules, categorized into various classes. These include terpenoids present in the essential oil, terpene diols, terpene diol glucosides, α-tocopherol (predominantly carvacrol), as well as pigment compounds such as chlorophylls, carotenoids (including β-carotene, violaxanthin, xanthophylls, zeaxanthin, luteoxanthin, and lutein epoxide), polyphenolic compounds primarily comprising flavonoids like kaempferol and quercetin, essential amino acids, vitamins encompassing vitamin C, K, B-complex, tannins, and minerals predominantly consisting of calcium, iron, selenium, zinc, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium. Notably, Urtica dioica is the sole plant species known to harbor choline acetyl transferase, an enzyme crucial for acetylcholine synthesis.
Nettle Extracts and Extraction Methods
Despite the nutritional benefits offered by stinging nettle leaves, their consumption is impeded by the presence of stinging hairs that elicit a burning sensation. Consequently, heat treatment is often requisite prior to consumption, albeit this results in the loss of numerous nutritional properties. Hence, there exists a demand for alternative nettle preparations that retain all nutritional attributes. Here shines the technique of ultrasonic extraction allowing for a gentle release of the full spectrum of bioactive substances present in nettle leaves. The ultrasonic cold water extraction offers outstanding efficiency whilst applying gentle treatment condition. This makes probe-type sonicators the ideal tool to prepare nettle tinctures as well as alcoholic extracts. Ultrasonic extraction has been proven for its exceptional efficiency and effectiveness to create extracts from specific medicinal plants with high potency and concentration.