Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction and Conventional Extraction of Silymarin from Silybum marianum seeds; A Comparison.

Ultrasonic-assisted extraction was evaluated more effective alternative to conventional maceration extraction method for the extraction of silymarin from Silybum marianum (L.) seeds. Silybum marianum (L.) seeds were extracted under indirect sonication (40 KHz water bath) and direct sonication (20 kHz probe) at different time intervals (15, 30 and 60 min). The ultrasonic-assisted extraction was compared with conventional maceration. Each extract was analysed using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the concentration of silymarin present was calculated. Results showed that increasing extraction time, increased silymarin content using all extraction methods under study. Direct sonication showed better extraction yields at all time intervals compared to indirect sonication and conventional maceration. The highest silymarin content (61.1 mg/10g of Silybum marianum seeds) was obtained using 20 kHz probe for 60 min extraction time.