Microwave-assisted extraction of solanesol from tobacco leaves

Solanesol is the starting material for many high-value biochemicals, including co-enzyme Q10 and Vitamin K analogues. In the present study, a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) technique has been developed for the fast extraction of solanesol from tobacco leaves. Compared to heat-reflux extraction, MAE reduced extraction time and obtained higher percentage extracted of solanesol. The effect of microwave on cell destruction of plant material was observed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The microwave-assisted extraction efficiency was further improved by adding NaOH into the extraction solvent, and the maximum percentage extracted of solanesol reached 0.91% (weight solanesol/weight tobacco) in 40 min at an optimum NaOH concentration of 0.05 M. The developed MAE integrated with saponification process provided an efficient method for solanesol recovery from tobacco leaf materials, and it also alleviated emulsification in the following separation and purification procedure as well.