Selective extraction of terpenoid compounds of Juniperus communis L. wood in the medium of a binary solvent (supercritical CO2 with modifier)

Introduction Juniperus communis L. is a wood species used in folk medicine since it has a variety of wood extractives with a wide range of pharmacological properties. The morphological features of juniper wood structure leads to the necessity for the application of activation, which facilitates extraction of wood extractives. The methods of thermochemical activation can be used to improve the existing schemes of extraction. Objective This work aims to develop methods that increase the selectivity and efficiency of the extraction of pharmacological biologically active substances from the Juniperus communis wood. Methodology The thermochemical activation of the juniper wood matrix involves treatment by steam explosion and the use of supercritical fluid extraction methods. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis was used to identify the components of the obtained extracts. Results It is shown that the supercritical fluid extraction by a binary solvent facilitates the extraction of the maximum amount of sesquiterpene and diterpene alcohols, terpene oxides and ketones. Extracts obtained during the two-stage process with the traditional extraction in a Soxhlet apparatus at the first stage and the supercritical fluid extraction at the second, contain squalene as the main component. The two-stage treatment with steam explosion at the first stage facilitates the extraction of the maximum amount of diterpene alcohols having the widest range of biological activity. Conclusion The research demonstrates the prospects of application of the methods of thermochemical activation of plant raw materials for the extraction of the wide spectrum of terpene components.