How do you extract pycnogenol from pine bark?
Step 1: Pine Bark Harvesting- Select mature pine trees (typically Pinus maritima or Pinus pinaster) with healthy bark.
- Remove the outer layer of bark, exposing the inner bark rich in pycnogenol.
Step 2: Bark Drying
- Spread out the inner bark in a well-ventilated area or use specialized drying equipment.
- Dry the bark at a controlled temperature (around 45-50 °C) to reduce moisture content and preserve the active compounds.
Step 3: Bark Grinding
- Once the bark is dry, grind it into a coarse powder using a hammer mill or similar equipment.
- The grinding process increases the surface area of the bark, enhancing the extraction efficiency.
Step 4: Supercritical Fluid Extraction (SFE)
- This is the most common method for extracting pycnogenol from pine bark.
- Supercritical fluids, usually liquid carbon dioxide (CO2), are used as the extracting solvent.
- Under high pressure and temperature, CO2 acts like a solvent capable of extracting the desired compounds without causing thermal damage.
- The CO2 extract containing pycnogenol is collected, and the CO2 is allowed to evaporate, leaving behind the pure pycnogenol extract.
Step 5: Purification and Filtration
- The crude pycnogenol extract may contain impurities. To obtain high-purity pycnogenol, it undergoes further purification steps, such as filtration, chromatography, and crystallization.
- The purification process ensures that the final product meets rigorous quality standards.
Step 6: Quality Control and Testing
- The purified pycnogenol extract is subjected to thorough quality control testing.
- This involves analyzing the extract for its composition, purity, and concentration of active substances, including procyanidins and phenolic compounds.
- Strict adherence to quality standards ensures the efficacy and safety of the pycnogenol extract.
The extracted pycnogenol is typically standardized to a specific concentration of active compounds, such as a certain percentage of procyanidins, for consistent potency and effectiveness in various applications.