Extraction of essential oil and oleoresin from chamomile (Chamomila recutita [L.] Rauschert) by steam distillation and extraction with organic solvents: a process design approach

Chamomile (Chamomilla recutita [L] Rauschert) is a medicinal plant largely grown in the state of Paraná, Brazil. The aim of this work was to identify the best process conditions to maximize the yields of essential oil and oleoresin, as well as their content of α-bisabolol and chamaluzene. Operating pressure, condensation flow rate, and distillation time, were the variables studied for the steam distillation process. The results showed that these variables exerted a significant effect on the yield. The yield was also strongly affected by the interaction between distillation time and condensation flow rate. The highest yield (0.11% by wt.) was obtained at 0.98 bar, distillation time of 60min., and condensation flow rate of 30 or 60 ml/min. The same result was obtained decreasing the distillation time to 45 min using a condensation flow rate of 60 ml/min. The oleoresin was obtained both by extraction with ethanol and with isopropyl alcohol, using an agitating extractor. The effects of temperature, ratio of solvent to feed, time of extraction, and type of solvent on the oleoresin yield were all significant. The largest yield (4.10% by wt.) was obtained using ethanol at 40 °C with a solvent/feed ratio of 6, and an extraction of 4 hr. The major compounds of essential oil and of the oleoresin were β-farnesene, linaool acetate, (dihydro), γ-cadinene, α-farnesene, bisabolol oxide B, α-bisabolol, chamazulene, α-bisabolol oxide A, trans-dicycle-ether (MW 200) and butyl phthalate.