Which method of extraction is the most efficient for drugs containing little or no cellular material (like benzoin, aloe): maceration or percolation?

Which method of extraction is the most efficient for drugs containing little or no cellular material (like benzoin, aloe): maceration or percolation?

• A. Percolation
• B. Infusion
• C. Maceration
• D. Decoction

Answer: (C)

When the drug has little or no cellular material, diffusion-driven soaking is more effective than forcing solvent through a solid bed. Maceration lets the solvent remain in contact with every part of the material as it swells and the constituents diffuse out, which is especially important for viscous, resinous or mucilaginous substances like benzoin or aloe. Percolation relies on the solvent flowing through the drug bed; with noncellular, sticky materials, flow can become uneven, causing channeling and incomplete contact, so extraction is less efficient. Keeping the material immersed at room temperature also helps preserve heat-sensitive constituents while maximizing diffusion-driven extraction.

When the drug has little or no cellular material, diffusion-driven soaking is more effective than forcing solvent through a solid bed. Maceration lets the solvent remain in contact with every part of the material as it swells and the constituents diffuse out, which is especially important for viscous, resinous or mucilaginous substances like benzoin or aloe. Percolation relies on the solvent flowing through the drug bed; with noncellular, sticky materials, flow can become uneven, causing channeling and incomplete contact, so extraction is less efficient. Keeping the material immersed at room temperature also helps preserve heat-sensitive constituents while maximizing diffusion-driven extraction.