"Moringa Oleifera Leaf Extract Using Binary Solvent Mixtures"

Abstract

In this solvent selection experiment, liquid-solid extraction was utilized to separate dried Moringa oleifera leaves using a binary solvent mixture of ethanol and water. This process of using 0-100% ethanol in water worked as a binary solvent for both polar and nonpolar solutes. A negligible amount of reaction occurred as the two miscible solvents were mixed, as they are both highly polar and have similar pKa values. A chemical extraction experiment was performed, Results indicated that the 60-65% ethanol-water combination is a better solvent for the extraction. Mover ever, using this method, the following several medicinal compounds were identified: fiber and polysaccharide products (75.49%), fats and waxes (3.085%), phenolics and terpenoids (12.975%), and alkaloids (8.450%). All these results indicate that the dried leaves have a large quantity of fiber and many vitamins and nutrients embedded in the plant.