EXTRACTION OF ANTIMICROBIAL ESSENTIAL OILS FROM POT MARIGOLD (CALENDULA OFFICINALIS) WITH SUPERCRITICAL FLUIDS

Vrtni ognjič (lat. Calendula officinalis) velja za staro okrasno in zdravilno rastlino. Različni pripravki iz njegovih cvetov se uporabljajo notranje za lajšanje krčev, želodčnih in menstrualnih težav. Dobro se obnese tudi zunanje na koži, kjer pospešuje celjenje ran ter pomirja vneto in razdraženo kožo. Namen magistrskega dela je bila ekstrakcija vrtnega ognjiča s pomočjo konvencionalnih ekstrakcijskih metod in superkritične ekstrakcije (SFE). Cilj magistrske naloge je tako bil ugotoviti način ekstrakcije, ki zagotavlja boljše izkoristke eteričnega olja. Predpostavljali smo, da je vsebnost protimikrobnih komponent v ekstraktu vrtnega ognjiča odvisna od različnih ekstrakcijskih metod in ekstrakcijskih pogojev, kot so tlak, temperatura in vrsta topila. Kemijsko sestavo ekstraktov smo ovrednotili s pomočjo plinske kromatografije z masno spektroskopijo (GC – MS) in UV - VIS spektrofotometrije. Iz rezultatov je razvidno, da smo največ komponent identificirali v ekstraktu pridobljenem s pomočjo destilacije z vodno paro, sledijo ekstrakti pridobljeni z SFE. Najmanj komponent smo identificirali v ekstraktih pridobljenih s Soxhlet-ovo aparaturo. Glede na že objavljene študije ugotavljamo, da smo uspešno identificirali glavne komponente v ekstraktih vrtnega ognjiča. V večini ekstraktov smo ne glede na način ekstrakcije ugotovili prisotnost komponent v največjem deležu, kot so Leden, γ – Cadinene in δ – Cadinene. Sklepamo, da bi naši ekstrakti v primeru mikrobioloških raziskav lahko delovali protimikrobno. Kljub temu, da smo v ekstraktih pridobljenih z SFE identificirali manj komponent smo mnenja, da ta metoda zagotavlja boljše izkoristke eteričnega olja in ekstrakcijo temperaturno občutljivejših komponent.Pot marigold (lat. Calendula officinalis) is known as an old ornamental and a medicinal plant. Various preparations made from its flowers are used internally to relieve cramps, stomach and menstrual problems. It is also effective in external use, where it promotes healing and soothes inflamed and irritated skin. The purpose of this master thesis was the extraction of pot marigold using conventional extraction methods and supercritical extraction (SFE). Therefore, the aim of this master thesis was to determine an extraction method, which provides better yields of essential oil. We presumed that the amount of antimicrobial components in the pot marigold extracts depends on the different extraction methods and extraction conditions, such as pressure, temperature and solvent type. The chemical composition of the extracts was studied using gas chromatography with mass spectroscopy (GC - MS) and UV - VIS spectrophotometry. The results showed that we identified more components in the extracts obtained by steam distillation, than in extracts obtained by SFE. The least components were identified in the extracts obtained by a Soxhlet apparatus. According to the already published studies we found that we have successfully identified the main components in the pot marigold extracts. Irrespective to extraction type the predominant compounds in most extracts were Leden, γ – Cadinene and δ – Cadinene. We presume that our extracts may act antimicrobial in the case of microbiological testing. Despite the fact that less components were found in extracts obtained by SFE, we believe that this method provides better yields of essential oil and extraction of more temperature-sensitive components