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Alcohol vs. Water:
Compounds in Plants and their Solubility
Understanding the solubility of plant components can be important for the preparation of herbal extracts and remedies, as it determines which solvent (water or alcohol) is most effective for extracting the desired medicinal properties from the plant material. Below is an expanded list indicating which herbal components and compounds are water soluble and which are alcohol soluble.
Alkaloids:
Generally soluble in alcohol. Examples include morphine from opium poppy and caffeine from coffee beans.
Essential Oils:
Soluble in alcohol. Examples include lavender oil and peppermint oil.
Flavonoids:
Soluble in water. Examples include quercetin found in onions and kaempferol found in spinach.
Glycosides:
Can be water soluble or alcohol soluble, depending on the specific glycoside. Examples include digoxin from foxglove and salicin from willow bark.
Phenolic Compounds:
Both water and alcohol soluble, depending on the specific compound. Examples include resveratrol found in grapes and curcumin found in turmeric.
Saponins:
Can be water soluble or alcohol soluble, depending on the specific saponin. Examples include ginsenosides found in ginseng and diosgenin found in wild yam.
Tannins:
Soluble in water. Examples include epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) found in green tea and ellagic acid found in berries.
Terpenes:
Soluble in alcohol. Examples include limonene found in citrus fruits and pinene found in pine trees.