INFLUENCE OF PARTICLE SIZE ON EXTRACTION YIELD AND QUANTIFICATION OF PARTHENOLIDE IN FEVERFEW (TANACETUM PARTHENIUM)

The influence of particle size of feverfew powders on the parthenolide (PRT) extraction yield was investigated. Samples with 500 µm or smaller particle size yielded at least 5 times more PRT than samples with greater than 500 µm particles, independent of the method of extraction utilized (Soxhlet, bottle stirring, sonication). The negative correlation between extraction yield of PRT and particle size of powder followed an exponential pattern (r²=0.96). The particle size of various commercial products was found to vary within large ranges. The stage of growth and development was found to influence the particle size obtained with a commercial grinder and PRT yields from the ground powders. Vegetative plants contained more PRT and yielded more coarse particles (>500 µm) than flowering and senescing plants. No major difference in particle size distribution of ground stems and leaves was observed. Our results revealed that uniformly small particle size is of paramount importance for reliable extraction of PRT from feverfew.