How [Ayurvedic] herbal extracts are made

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Hi All,

 

See this, crossposted from EthnoVeterinary Mailing list (EVM).

 

Phil

 

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[]

How herbal extracts are made

 

Dr. Dobriya wrote:

> I am a plant scientist working with Dabur Research Foundation, a

> leading manufacturer of Botanicals and Ayurvedic products. ...For

> aqueous extract, in commercial productions, the herb after it has

> been properly dried is made into a coarse powder. About 8 times

> water is added to this herb and it is heated in steam jacketed pan

> for 3-4 hours, after that the extract is filtered and the process is

> repeated. Both the filtrates are mixed and allowed to settle

> overnight to allow sedimentation (sometime pectic enzymes are added

> to speed up the sedimentation process).

 

On a sister-list <Traditional Chinese Herbal Medicine >, we

have been discussing how herbal extracts are made in the CHM

(Chinese) and Kampo (Japanese) systems. I have a question for

you!

 

In the Ayurvedic system, is the final filtrate (from the supernatant

of the combined filtrates from the TWO boilings) completely free of

insolubles (precipitate) or not?

 

For example, do you expect much of the original Ca or P to appear

in the dried extract if you use largely insoluble medicinals like

certain earths (gypsum, limestone, lodestone, etc), sea-shells

(ovster-, abalone-, clam- shells, etc), or animal bones/teeth?

 

> [Aqueous extract] can also be obtained by cold infusion in small

> scales but one has to compromise for the yield. The filtrate is then

> decanted to the pan and concentrated. This concentrated extract is

> then dried in the tray drier, adding some inert materials like

> starch or cellulose.

 

Why are inert materials added? Surely they reduce the strength of

the desired herbal extract?

 

> These days - the extract is also subjected to spray drying (like

> dried skimmed milk powder).

>

> For solvent extractions the material is agitated and heated under

> reflux so that the solvent remains in the system and extractives is

> obtained. The temperature is given in accordance with the nature of

> the solvent (boiling point). Once the extraction is complete, the

> solvent is recovered (like distillation of liquors) and the extract

> is ensured to have no or minimum solvent residue. Regards

> R.M.Dobriyal Principal Scientist Dabur Research Foundation 22, Site

> IV Sahibabad-201010

 

What is done with the INSOLUBLES after aqueous or solvent

extraction is complete? Are they dumped? Best regards, Phil

 

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" Dobriyal R.M " <dobriyalrm replied:

 

1. In the final filtrate, yes there are some particulate matter which

is allowed to settle and finally discarded.

 

2. The inert material (5-10% normally) is added to facilitate drying

in tray drier. Otherwise the extract is turned into cake which is

difficult to remove from trays after drying and also there is a

possibility of charring. Yes the inert material will obviously reduce

the actives (5-10% corresponding to the quantity added).

 

3. The mark (left over after filtrate) is used in following way by

different manufacturers

 

i. made into compost or manure for mushroom production and

agriculture.

ii. reduced to ashes

iii. Converted to rough quality card boxes

iv. straightaway thrown to the forests back.

 

Thanks, R.M.Dobriyal, DRF (Ext. 2767)

 

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