We will use supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) to extract michellamine from the plant material Anistrocladus korupensis. We will also separate the monomers and the dimers by manipulating the pressure and temperature of the extraction. To separate michellamin A from B, we have two unique solutions that have not been tried earlier. One would be using a unique stereospecific probe and the other is to use a chromatographic technique. We believe that at least one of them would work for sure.Commercial ApplicationsThis project will result in a number of benefits to the natural product industry. However, the most important aspect is the separation of michellamine B from other naphthyl tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloid dimers such as michellamine A using either SFE with a stereochemical probe modifier or using prep SFC. Other potential benefits of this technique are the purity of the michellamine B as compared to that produced through prep HPLC and the elimination of large amount of hydrocarbon solvents. These solvents are not only expensive to use and dispose, but EPA has classified many solvents as carcinogenic materials. EPA wants the industry to eliminate them and find alternate methods to process natural products.National Cancer Institute (NCI)
