[An optimized method for extracting corosolic acid from loquat leaves].

Area of Science:

• Phytochemistry
• Natural Product Extraction
• Medicinal Chemistry

Background:

• Loquat leaves (Eriobotrya japonica) contain bioactive compounds with potential medicinal value.
• Corosolic acid is a triterpenoid found in loquat leaves, known for its therapeutic properties.
• Efficient and scalable extraction methods are needed to isolate corosolic acid for pharmaceutical use.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish an optimal, cost-effective method for extracting corosolic acid from loquat leaves.
• To purify corosolic acid to a high degree for potential medical applications.
• To validate the purity and yield of the extracted corosolic acid.

Main Methods:

• Loquat leaves underwent water extraction to remove soluble substances, followed by sequential methanol-aqueous extractions.
• Activated carbon treatment was used to remove chlorophyll, and extracts were concentrated to precipitate crude triterpene acids.
• High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was employed for purification and analysis of corosolic acid.

Main Results:

• The extraction method using 95% aqueous methanol yielded the highest percentage of corosolic acid (24.18%).
• Purification via HPLC resulted in a final corosolic acid product with a purity exceeding 80%.
• The developed method proved convenient and cost-effective for corosolic acid isolation.

Conclusions:

• An optimized and practical extraction protocol for corosolic acid from loquat leaves has been successfully established.
• The high purity achieved makes the extracted corosolic acid suitable for medical use.
• This method offers a viable route for the large-scale production of corosolic acid from a natural source.