Controlling concentration of bioactive components in cat's claw based products with a hybrid separation process

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) with and without entrainer combined with organic solvent extraction was used for fractionation of bioactive natural products as alkaloids and antioxidants from cat's claw (Uncaria tomentosa (Willd.) DC.) bark. Extracts obtained from this plant have a number of beneficial effects, including anti-inflammatory or immune stimulator. The aim of this work was to obtain extracts of enriched and limited alkaloid concentrations, good antioxidants and tannin agents. The results demonstrated that a hybrid process involving SFE is a selective method to obtain an oxindole alkaloid rich fraction (186.0 ± 3.2 mg total pentacyclic oxindole alkaloids/g extract) and a product enriched in tannins (23.8 ± 1.9% tannin content in extract) and antioxidants (IC50 = 5.88 ± 0.54 mg/ml extract).