Isolation of solasodine and other steroidal alkaloids and sapogenins by direct hydrolysis-extraction of Solanum plants or glycosides therefrom

Concomitant extraction and hydrolysis of Solanum steroidal glycoalkaloids i n a two-phase system containing an aqueous mineral acid and an organic wate r immiscible solvent, and having a boiling point under 100 degreesC, is des cribed. It is essentially a "one-pot" process, combining direct acid hydrol ysis of the glycosides in the plant material and in situ extraction of the released aglycones after alkali treatment, in a single step, the various in gredients being added simultaneously or sequentially, as required. Applicat ion of the process to fruits. leaves, and tissue cultures of Solanum khasia num Clarke plants, either fresh or in dried, finely ground form, using a tw o-phase aqueous hydrochloric acid-toluene system, proved to be very suitabl e for continuous production of pure solasodine which is a valuable raw ster oid for the preparation of steroidal drugs. Pure Solanum glycoalkaloids wer e also prepared and hydrolysed accordingly. The process has analytical appl ications too, and could be extended in a general way to glycosides in other series for preparation of their related aglycones. (C) 2001 Elsevier Scien ce Ltd. All rights reserved.