A comprehensive review of conventional and non-conventional solvent extraction techniques

Abstract

Phytochemicals are produced by plants during primary or secondary metabolic activities. They are the bioactive compounds playing important role in the defense of the host plant against different biotic and abiotic agents and functioning in attraction and stimulation. Most of these phytochemicals are found to be having beneficial effects on the health of human beings. All Indian traditional system of medicine like Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha uses phytochemicals in their formulations. In the Moderns era, synthetic analogs or prototypes of natural phytochemicals are used which is however not advisable. It is always recommended to extract the phytochemicals from their natural sources scientifically. The bioactive component is recovered from raw materials by dissolving them in appropriate solvents at suitable temperatures. Phytochemicals can be extracted by various techniques; classical as well as modern. The current review attempt to bring out a comparative study of all the conventional and non-conventional techniques used for the extraction of phytochemicals.