Abstract:

Chlorophyll in fresh mulberry leaves was extracted by organic solvent extraction process and measured with ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry. Effects of some parameters on extraction efficiency were compared to obtain the preliminary extraction process of chlorophyll in mulberry leaves, such as concentration or volume of different organic solvent and extraction time. It was found that chlorophyll was easy to dissolve in anhydrous ethanol and acetone, but a little bit dissolve in ethyl acetate. Moreover, extraction efficiency could be enhanced when acetone and anhydrous ethanol were combined as extraction solvent. In addition, the results of extraction process optimization showed that extraction efficiency was highest when chlorophyll in 5 circular mulberry leaves (d=0.6 cm) was extracted with 6 ml mixture solution of acetone and anhydrous ethanol (ratio of acetone to anhydrous ethanol was 1 to 2) for 24 h at dark. And the contents of chlorophyll a and b were 2.22 mg/g and 0.82 mg/g, respectively; the value of chlorophyll a/b was 2.71. This study did not only supply method guidance for extraction and measurement of chlorophyll, but was conducive to optimize the extraction process of chlorophyll in mulberry leaves.