A novel technique for extracting terpenoids from aromatic plant materials

Essential oils (EO), sometimes called volatile oils, are produced by aromatic plants and extracted from various plant parts.EO have historically been extracted using various solvents, with water likely the most common solvent.EO are largely composed of volatile compounds, such as phenylpropanoids, monoterpenoids, sesquiterpenoids, and to a lesser extent, diterpenoids.The current study investigates a novel, patents pending extraction technique that uses EO as a natural solvent to extract additional, non-volatile compounds from plant materials that were otherwise devoid from EO.While the application is seemingly endless with various plant materials, the current study focuses on (1) using frankincense (Boswellia sacra) resin to produce an EO through hydrodistillation and then (2) using said EO as a solvent on the 'spent' frankincense resin to extract additional, non-volatile compounds.From the initial extraction, frankincense EO samples were largely comprised (determined by GC/MS) of -pinene (avg.39.8%), limonene (avg.16.4%), and contained detectable compounds as large as -phellandrene dimer (C20H32), albeit in trace amounts.From the secondary extraction, where EO was used as a solvent on spent frankincense resin, the volatile profile was similar, but additional non-volatile compounds were detected (determined by LC/MS/MS) such as boswellic acid (C30H48O3) (avg.178.92 g/mL), 3-acetyl-11-keto--boswellic acid (C32H48O5) (avg.40.40 g/mL), and 11-keto--boswellic acid (C30H46O4) (avg.13.87 g/mL).The current study establishes a novel and sustainable extraction technique that has potential applications across multiple industries, including the flavor and fragrance, and pharmaceutical industries.