Patent ID: 8541381

Claim:
A process for producing an enriched fraction containing up to 100% of total saponins from an extract of Bacopa species, comprising: subjecting plant materials of Bacopa species to extraction using a solvent selected from the group consisting of water, aqueous organic solvent, an organic solvent, and mixtures thereof; concentrating the extract under vacuum effective for forming a dry powder; dispersing the dry powder in a polar organic solvent effective for forming a polar solvent extract; washing the polar solvent extract after removal of insolubles therefrom, with water, 2% aqueous sodium hydroxide and water; concentrating the extract thereafter under vacuum effective for forming a dry mass containing 60-75% of total saponins; dissolving the dry mass in alcohol or aqueous alcohol effective for forming an alcohol or aqueous alcohol solution and then treating the solution with an adsorbent, the adsorbent including charcoal; concentrating the solution under reduced pressure after removing the adsorbent therefrom to form a dry mass containing 75-85% total Bacopa saponins; chromatographically separating the dry mass to a fraction containing more than 95 % of total saponins using silica gel; and crystallizing the fraction in a suitable solvent to obtain a fraction containing at least about 95% of Bacopa saponins as estimated by high pressure liquid chromatography, wherein the concentration of Bacopa saponins in the fraction is greater than in a product prepared without washing with aqueous alkali and without treating with an adsorbent.