Extraction of magnolol from Magnolia officinalis using supercritical fluid extraction and phytosol solvent extraction

Supercritical carbon dioxide, with and without a methanol modifier, has been compared with a new portable cold solvent extraction technique, employing phytosols A, B and D for the extraction of magnolol from Magnolia officinalis. High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to analyse the extracts. The results show that the yield obtained after 3 h extraction with supercritical carbon dioxide containing 10% methanol was the highest (1.86%; w/w), while that obtained after 3 h extraction with phytosol A was the lowest (0.78%; w/w). The results also reveal the potential of supercritical carbon dioxide and phytosol solvent extraction as media for larger scale extractions.