Enrichment of Alkaloids from Cinnamomum camphora Seed Kernels Using Macroporous Resin: Adsorption/Desorption Behavior, Process Optimization and Scale-Up Study

TL;DR

This study develops an efficient method to enrich alkaloids from Cinnamomum camphora seed kernels using macroporous resin, achieving high recovery and scalability.

Contribution

The study introduces an optimized and scalable macroporous resin-based process for recovering bioactive alkaloids from Cinnamomum camphora seed kernels.

Findings

XR918C resin was identified as the optimal adsorbent for CCSK alkaloids with high adsorption/desorption capacity.

The enrichment process achieved a 4.41-fold increase in alkaloid content with 89.19% recovery after scale-up.

CCSK alkaloids showed strong in vitro antioxidant activity.

Abstract

The Cinnamomum camphora seed kernel (CCSK) shows great promise as a natural source of bioactive alkaloids. However, there is little data about recovering alkaloids from CCSK by-products after oil extraction using an aqueous method. This study aimed to establish an efficient technology for enriching CCSK alkaloids (including magnoflorine, lindoldhamine and N,N-methyldomesticinium) using macroporous resin technology. The results showed that XR918C resin was the most suitable adsorbent due to its high adsorption/desorption capacity for CCSK alkaloids. The adsorption process was best described by Langmuir isotherm models and pseudo-second-order kinetics; it was spontaneous and physical in nature. The optimum procedure for CCSK alkaloids enrichment using XR918C resin was as follows: for adsorption, the injection flow rate and sample volume were 2.0 BV/h and 7.0 BV, respectively; for desorption, the eluent type, elution flow rate and volume were 80% ethanol, 2.0 BV/h and 6.0 BV, respectively. Furthermore, the scale-up of the CCSK alkaloid enrichment process was performed under optimal conditions. Following the 10-fold scale-up enrichment, the content of CCSK alkaloids was raised 4.41-fold, with a recovery rate of 89.19 ± 0.01%. After nine regeneration cycles, the efficiency of the XR918C resin remained stable, indicating its good reusability. In addition, CCSK alkaloids exhibited strong in vitro antioxidant activity. This study provides a useful reference for the industrial-scale enrichment of CCSK alkaloids.

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