The herbal extraction industry involves the extraction of active ingredients, compounds, and bioactive substances from plants and herbs for use in various industries such as pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, cosmetics, and food products.
These bio-actives are contained in complexed macromolecules such as flavnoids, Terpenes, Tannins, Saponins, Proteins, Carbohydrates, Oils, Volatile matters and other organic and inorganic compounds. These bio-actives are not loosely bound rather they are complexed /bound to lignins, pectins, xylans, polysaccharides etc.
Enzymatic extraction is a modern, eco-friendly technique that uses specific enzymes to break down plant cell walls and release bioactive compounds. This method is widely used in the extraction of valuable compounds from plant materials, such as polysaccharides, proteins, phenolic compounds, and essential oils. Enzymes like cellulase, pectinase, hemicellulose, and protease are added to plant material, which catalyzes the breakdown of complex plant cell structures. These enzymes target specific bonds in the cell wall components, such as cellulose, hemicellulose, or pectin, allowing for easier release of bioactive compounds. This method of extraction has an advantage over traditional method of extraction as it is eco-friendly as no toxic solvents are used, making the process safer and more environmentally friendly. Enzymatic methods have lower energy requirements due to mild operating conditions (room temperature, atmospheric pressure). Enzymes specifically target cell wall components, improving the extraction efficiency and yield of the desired compounds.Extracts are often purer since the breakdown of cell walls allows for a more selective release of bioactive ingredients. This method Operates under mild conditions (low temperature, neutral pH), which helps preserve sensitive bioactive compounds that may degrade at high temperatures or in harsh solvents.Enzymatic reactions can accelerate the breakdown of cell walls compared to mechanical or chemical methods, reducing extraction time. Enzymatic method is very versatile as it Can be applied to a wide range of plant materials (fruits, vegetables, medicinal plants, etc.) for extracting a variety of compounds.
Bio Plantex: Bio Plantex is an innovative enzymatic Bio-processing product to improve herbal extraction. Bio Plantex is a bio-product designed with the aim for pre-treatment of natural plant materials which helps in improving the yield of extraction of Bio-actives in all kinds of extraction processes like distillation, aqueous extraction, solvent extraction etc. with preservation of all the bio-actives.
