Pure homoeriodictyol sodium salt recovery, for use as flavoring or antiinflammatory agent, by extracting Eriodictyon plant material with water-immiscible solvent, dewaxing and precipitating with base

Recovery of homoeriodictyol sodium salt (I). Recovery of homoeriodictyol sodium salt (I) involves: (a) extracting Eriodictyon spp. plant material one or more times with a water-immiscible extractant; (b) removing the plant material; (c) optionally concentrating the obtained crude extract; (d) subjecting the crude extract to intermediate storage; (e) removing the precipitated solids (waxes); (f) optionally treating the dewaxed crude extract with activated carbon and removing solids; (g) treating the pre-purified crude extract with a basic aqueous solution containing sodium ions; (h) recovering the obtained (I)-containing precipitate as crude product; (i) optionally washing the precipitate; and (j) optionally recrystallizing from a suitable solvent. An Independent claim is included for the recovery of sterubin (II) from the filtrate obtained in step (h), by separating the aqueous and organic phases of the filtrate, partially concentrating the organic phase by distillation (preferably under vacuum at least than 40 degrees C), recovering the obtained precipitate of (II) and optionally recrystallizing the crude (II) from a suitable solvent. Die Erfindung betrifft die Gewinnung von technischen Mengen reinen, natürlichen Homoeriodictyols (3'-Methoxy-4',5,7-trihydroxyflavanon) in Form des Homoeriodicytol-Natriumsalzes und von Sterubin (7-Methoxy-3',4',5-trihydroxyflavanon) aus Pflanzen der Gattung Eriodictyon, dergestalt, dass man das Pflanzenmaterial mit einem nicht-wassermischbaren Extraktionsmittel extrahiert, den Extrakt entwachst, gegebenenfalls mit Aktivkohle vorreinigt, mit einer Natriumionen-haltigen, basischen, wässrigen Lösung behandelt und das gefällte Homoeriodictyol-Natriumsalz durch Umfällung oder Kristallisation aufreinigt.