Examination of localization of silymarin and fatty oil in Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. fruit

Abstract

Physical characteristics and localization of flavonoids and fatty oil in Silybum marianum (L.) Gaertn. fruit of different origin were examined. Physical characteristics of the fruit were determined by its origin, and samples cultivated on plantations were, concerning their colour, shine, shape and size, very similar to those they originated from. By examination of the fruit size, we wanted to give our contribution to the choice of adequate equipment for picking, cleaning and packing of the fruit. Using a suitable mechanical procedure, the separation of the fruit into its inner part (endosperm) and outer cover (testa) was carried out. The Soxhlet extraction was carried out using petroleum ether (40-70°C) and methanol, The silymarin content (calculated as silibinin) was spectrophotometrically determined in the whole fruit (1.94-2.45%) and its respective parts: endosperm (0.19-0.33%) and testa (4.75-6.01%). By evaporation of petroleum ether extracts under the lowered pressure we determined the oil content in the whole fruit (19.38-24.08%), endosperm (27.85-34.19%) and testa (2.45-4.34%). We also established that more than 94% of silymarin was located in the testa more than 88% of fatty oil was localized in the fruit endosperm. The obtained results indicated that it was better to use testa, than whole fruit, when extracting silymarin.