3.3. Preparation of the Extracts

A sample of plant material (250 g) was first defatted by extraction with chloroform (1 L) in Soxhlet apparatus (30 h). The pellet was then refluxed with methanol (5 × 750 mL × 3 h) to yield (after evaporation of the solvent) ME (53 g dw). A portion of ME (3 g) was set aside for further analyses, and the rest was redissolved in water and subjected to fractionated extraction with diethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and n-butanol, subsequently. The solvents were evaporated in vacuum and then lyophilized using an Alpha 1–2/LD Plus freeze dryer (Christ, Osterode am Harz, Germany) to remove residual water. In the process, the following dry fractions were obtained: DEF, EAF, and BF.