A new method of extraction and purification of solanesol from tobacco extracts

Solanesol is the starting material for many high-value biochemicals, including Coenzyme Q10 and Vitamin K analogues. A new and simple method, was developed for the rapid and efficient extraction of solanesol from tobacco extracts. The crude extracts containing 20-30% solanesol was subjected to a series of steps, viz., saponification and extraction, solvent crystallization, column chromatography and recrystallization. According to the experiment, two devices were made in the laboratory. Several parameters, such as crystallization solvent, crystallization temperature, crystallization time, eluent, the mesh of silica gel and the amount of silica gel were investigated to find the best experimental conditions. The analysis was carried out by a simple and rapid non-aqueous reversed-phase high performance liquid chromatographic (RP-HPLC) method. The product purity was about 95.5% as determined by RP-HPLC.