Extraction of azadirachtin A from neem seed kernels by supercritical fluidand its evaluation by HPLC and LC/MS

A new supercritical extraction methodology was applied to extract azadirach tin A (AZA-A) from neem seed kernels. Supercritical and liquid carbon dioxi de (CO2) were used as extractive agents in a three-separation-stage supercr itical pilot plant. Subcritical conditions were tested too. Comparisons wer e carried out by calculating the efficiency of the pilot plant with respect to the milligrams per kilogram of seeds (ms/mo) of AZA-A extracted. The mo st convenient extraction was gained using an ms/mo ratio of 119 rather than 64. For supercritical extraction, a separation of cuticular waxes from oil was set up in the pilot plant. HPLC and electrospray mass spectroscopy wer e used to monitor the yield of AZA-A extraction.