| Euphorbia thymifolia belongs to Euphorbiaceae family, are known as weed. The extracts obtained by SCFE technique and solvent extraction methods have been evaluated for chemical components using GC-MS instrument. The chromatographic analysis showed that supercritical CO2 extract contained more components than methanol extract. Tricosane hydroquinone, fridoline, 5-hydroxy-4 methoxy-7-methyl flavone and euphorbal have been identified.
The plant, Euphorbia thymifolia L. belong to Euphorbiaceae family grown in subtropical areas in India as a weed. The whole plant is used as a medicine in Indian traditional system of medicine since ancient time as antibacterial, antidysenteric and vermifuge. It is a small annual herb with opposite elliptic leaves 4-8 mm long 2.5 mm wide, delicate roots, having milky latex in stem, which spread on the ground as spurge. It is considered as stimulant, astringent, anthelmintic and laxative given to children in bowl complaints. The essential oils obtained from the plants are used in medicinal soaps for the treatment of erysipelas as a spray to keep off flies and mosquitoes.
The SCFE process was found superior and faster to organic solvent extraction methods. The conventional process requires more time to separate out the chemical components from the plant matrix, hence consume more energy in case of hexane extraction. It was also observed in SCFE extraction, the plant yields a green colour liquid with a peculiar pungent odour and irritating taste. The detailed study for the chemical components present in the extract is given in subsequent tables and figures. The extraction in supercritical CO2, in methanol and hexane solvents from E. thymifolia L. were analysed by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometry analysis.
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