An innovative way for extraction of essential oil components from Pimpinella anisum L. fruits

Objective: The aim of this article was to test the hypothesis about the possibility for extraction of essential oil components from the plant raw material (PRM) by the example of Pimpinella anisum L. fruits with two different perfluoro organic solvents, Novec 1230 and Novec 7100. Methods: For the studies, we used Pimpinella anisum L. fruits ground to obtain particle size between 0.1 and 0.5 mm. The study of qualitative and quantitative content of the extracts was carried out by the following method: simple maceration, PRM: extractant ratio 1:10 w/v; and circulation method for extraction using Soxhlet extractor, PRM: extractant ratio 1:5 w/v. Qualitative analysis of extracts was carried out by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method. Quantitative analysis of trans-anethole in the extracts was carried out by reverse phase high-performance liquid chromatography (RP HPLC) method. Results: The largest yield of anethole was observed for n-hexane, 84±4 %, and for Novec 7100, 81±4 %. In case of Novec 1230 solvent, the yield of anethole was noted to be three times less, 32±2 %. The yield of anethole under the conditions of solvents (Novec 1230 and Novec 7100) circulation method was up to 94±5 % within two hours. Conclusion: Adequacy of the working hypothesis about the possibility for extraction of essential oil components from Pimpinella anisum L. fruits by two different perfluoro organic solvents, Novec 1230 and Novec 7100, was verified experimentally. In the context of the solvents tested, it was found that the level of fluorination of the solvent’s molecule had a great influence on its extraction properties in regard to anethole and vegetable oil. © 2019 The Authors.