SUPERCRITICAL EXTRACTION OF INDOLE ALKALOIDS FROM Tabernaemontana catharinensis: AN EVALUATION OF THE COSOLVENT ON THE EXTRACT COMPOSITIONS

Tabernaemontana catharinensis is a tree rich in indole alkaloids, such as coronaridine and voacangine that have antileishmanial activity. SFE from T.catharinensis using CO2 + 5.1% (m/m) of cosolvent (ethanol, isopropyl alcohol, methanol, water and their mixtures) was studied. The global yields and the compositions of extracts were determined. The data were taken at 250 bar, 45oC, and total solvent flow rate of 6.1×10 kg/s.The crude extracts were fractionated to obtain the alkaloid-rich fractions. These fractions were analyzed by Thin-layer Chromatography. Gas-chromatography/Flame Ionization Detector was used to quantify the voacangine. The average global yield was approximately constant (2.4±0.1%) for the alcoholic cosolvents; the global yield was significantly larger (15±1%) for the cosolvent water and its mixture alcoholic mixtures. Nonetheless, the content of alkaloids in the extracts was strongly affected by the cosolvent, the methanol showed to be the more effective cosolvent.