2.2.1 Maceration (Cold Extraction)

Maceration is the simplest and most widely accessible extraction technique, in which coarsely powdered plant material is soaked in a solvent at room...

Maceration is the simplest and most widely accessible extraction technique, in which coarsely powdered plant material is soaked in a solvent at room temperature, typically for around seven days with occasional stirring, at a conventional solvent-to-drug ratio of approximately 10:1 (mL:g). Because no heat is applied, maceration is particularly well suited to heat-labile compounds such as volatile oils, glycosides, and thermolabile alkaloids that would degrade under the elevated temperatures of continuous hot extraction. Its principal limitations are incomplete exhaustive extraction relative to more intensive methods, a comparatively long processing duration, and, where an aqueous solvent is used, a risk of microbial contamination during the extended soaking period; common solvents include water, aqueous ethanol (typically 50–70%), methanol, chloroform, and petroleum ether, selected according to the polarity of the target constituent class.