Micronization of taxifolin by supercritical antisolvent process and evaluation of radical scavenging activity

• Published in: International journal of molecular sciences Vol. 13; no. 7; pp. 8869 - 8881
• Main Authors: Zu, Shuchong, Yang, Lei, Huang, Jinming, Ma, Chunhui, Wang, Wenjie, Zhao, Chunjian, Zu, Yuangang
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16.07.2012; Molecular Diversity Preservation International (MDPI)
• Subjects: Bioavailability; dissolution rate; Free Radical Scavengers - chemistry; Hot Temperature; Larix gmelinii; micronization; Morphology; Particle Size; Pharmaceuticals; Quercetin - analogs & derivatives; Quercetin - chemistry; radical scavenging activity; Scanning electron microscopy; Solvents; supercritical antisolvent; taxifolin; Larix gmelinii; dissolution rate; radical scavenging activity; supercritical antisolvent; taxifolin; micronization
• ISSN: 1422-0067; 1661-6596; 1422-0067
• DOI: 10.3390/ijms13078869

The aim of this study was to prepare micronized taxifolin powder using the supercritical antisolvent precipitation process to improve the dissolution rate of taxifolin. Ethanol was used as solvent and carbon dioxide was used as an antisolvent. The effects of process parameters, such as temperature (35-65 °C), pressure (10-25 MPa), solution flow rate (3-6 mL/min) and concentration of the liquid solution (5-20 mg/mL) on the precipitate crystals were investigated. With a lower temperature, a stronger pressure and a lower concentration of the liquid solution, the size of crystals decreased. The precipitation temperature, pressure and concentration of taxifolin solution had a significant effect. However, the solution flow rate had a negligible effect. It was concluded that the physicochemical properties and dissolution rate of crystalline taxifolin could be improved by physical modification such as particle size reduction using the supercritical antisolvent (SAS) process. Further, the SAS process was a powerful methodology for improving the physicochemical properties and radical scavenging activity of taxifolin.