Ιταλία 2019

Passiflora Incarnata : Extraction and characterization of valuable compounds

1. G. Santzouk¹*, S. Santzouk¹, Gerodimou¹, M.Papadaki², C. Pastore³,L. di Bitonto³

¹Santzouk Samir and Co. General Partnership, PANAX, Chrissostomou Smirnis 14, Agios Konstantinos, Aetoloacarnania, GR30100, Greece

²Department of Environmental & Natural Resources Management, School of Engineering,

Seferi 2, Agrinio, GR30100, University of Patras, GREECE

³ Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche (CNR), Instituto di Ricercasulle Acque (IRSA) Viale de Blasio 5, 70132, Bari, Italy

*Corresponding author: E-mail: smsamir@otenet.gr, Tel +30 2641045495, Fax: +30 26410 46707

Abstract

Passiflora was a nourishing plant grown at the tropical forests of Central and South America,Cultivated elsewhere. There are many species of Passiflora but the most common in Greece are the: Passiflora caerulea, Passiflora incarnata and Passiflora quadrangularis

          Passiflora incarnata is a medicinal plant known for its sedative properties.

Passiflora has been used to alleviate various diseases, especially as a treatment for insomnia and anxiety. The title plant had been used as analgesic and downer.

The types of active compounds which are responsible for passiflora’s properties are Flavonoids, glycosides, alkaloids, phenolic compounds and volatile constituents.

Although, the most abundant active compounds responsible for the sedative effects are the flavonoids .

In this work the medicinal properties of genus passiflora are presented; methods of valuable compounds extraction are shown and compared; extracts characterization and product quality control is demonstrated.

Introduction

Passiflora is also known as passion flower, passion vines, maypop, apricot vine and granadilla of the family Passifloraceae. It belongs at the category of deciduous climbing  and fast growing plants.

Passiflora consists of 4 parts : the main plant, the leaves, the flower and the fruits. The main plant can be woody or herbaceous. The leaves are green and large with wide 3 or 6 bowls. Passiflora’s flowers are pentamerous with fine trellis petals and they have many colours such as white, purpe, red etc. And last but not least, it’s fruits have oval shape and they also have many colours like orange, yellow, red etc.

Materials and methods

Passiflora plants was obtained from Greece. They were grown on the most suitable soil; only natural fertilization was employed; throughout their production synthetic fertilizers, pesticides, insecticides, fungicides or herbicides were not used. The plant harvest was based on a strict protocol and collection rules. The harvest takes place late in the morning to avoid moisture during the sping months (May-June). Only the completely dry flowers of the plant are collected and also have to be very clean. After harvesting meticulous cleaning of all kinds of impurities (organic or inorganic)was done. Growth of harmful enzymes and fungi should be ruled out. Possibility of growth increases when the flowers are packaged in liquid form. The transport length of the plant-flower was as short as possible and it never exceeded 48 hours; the flowers were transported in well-ventilated packages (perforated bags, baskets of reeds, boxes full of holes e.t.c.).The flowers were split in two parts. The first one was first subjected to segmentation into alcohol vapor and then to liquid extraction. The second part dried. A sample from this part, was used to determine the dry residue and the moisture content of the plant; this was necessary in order to calculate the degree of alcohol for the process. Finally, the second part was dryed at 50°C for 24hr.

Percolation was the selected method of extraction. It was used for extraction of finely powdered solid-streams, slightly swollen upon wetting; then the solids were treated with a hydroalcoholic medium for the complete depletion of the valuable drug compounds. The procedure which was followed included preparation of the drip, humidification with water-alcoholic solvent (only pure alcohol and deionized water were used as solvents)to inflate the solid, stacking the drip into the percolator carefully and adding quantity of the solvent to its saturation, maceration for at least 48hr, adjustment of percolation and receipt of certain volume of extract within a specified time. Safe keeping and repeat for new quantity in which condensation is made, mixing the two extracts, calm for 24 hr and filtrate. Quality controls were made during the procedure. In the end, the final quality control of the extract was conducted. It included determination of alcoholic degree and degree of acidity (pH) of the crude, fiber content, coefficient of expansion, bitterness limit and immediate flavonoid identification which was used to confirm that the emloyed plant was passiflora.

Our products

            The treatment of passiflora plant employed dried flowers to form powder and liquid extracts. They lead to production of pharmaceutical products such as capsules, tablets, drops, powder and elixirs. The most important feature of this production is that all materials and products are non-toxic, natural and friendly to the environment.

Keywords: passiflora, flavonoid, alkalooid, passion flower, extraction

Acknowledgement

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programm under the Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant agreement No 778168