Investigation of primary and secondary modifiers for the subcritical extraction of lovastatin from MEVACOR tablets with carbon dioxide.

The subcritical fluid extraction of lovastatin from tablet powder mixtures prepared in this laboratory and MEVACOR tablets is successfully demonstrated. Methanol modifier percentage, additive type (acidic, basic, or neutral), and additive concentration on the extraction efficiency are examined. The extraction recoveries of lovastatin from MEVACOR tablets are shown to be highly dependent on methanol concentration and additive type. Isopropylamine is shown to be the most successful additive investigated. An optimized extraction method is developed, and lovastatin recoveries of 99.5% were achieved with a relative standard deviation of 1.2% from MEVACOR tablets with 15% (v/v) (1.0% [v/v] isopropylamine) methanol-modified CO2.