Process for isolating phenolic compounds

本发明提供用于从含酚类化合物的植物原料的水性提取物中分离酚类化合物，尤其是异黄酮的组合物和方法。所述方法包括：(a)提供第一pH小于10的水性植物提取物，所述水性植物提取物包含许多酚类化合物；(b)用第一有机溶剂提取所述水性植物提取物，产生第一有机提取物；(c)用pH大于10的水相提取所述第一有机提取物，产生富含苯酚的水相；(d)将所述富含苯酚的水相调至pH小于9；(e)从所述富含苯酚的水相中分离酚类化合物。 The invention provides compositions and methods for isolating phenolic compounds, particularly isoflavones, from aqueous extracts of plant materials that contain such compounds. The process comprising: (a) providing an aqueous plant extract at a first pH less than 10, the aqueous plant extract comprising a plurality of phenolic compounds; (b) extracting the aqueous plant extract with a first organic solvent to yield a first organic extract; (c) extracting the first organic extract with an aqueous phase of pH greater than 10 to yield a phenol rich aqueous phase; (d) adjusting the pH of the phenol rich aqueous phase to a pH of less than 9; and (e) isolating the phenolic compounds from the phenol rich aqueous phase.