GB822741A - Method of extracting products of therapeutic value from the pancreas - Google Patents

Abstract

Fresh, preferably defatted, pancreas, minced to a pulp, preferably of average grain size 1-2 mm., is treated with ethyl ether alone or mixed with other solvents such as acetone under conditions of controlled stirring, preferably stirring for 10 to 20 minutes followed by standing for 10 to 20 minutes for a period of 3 to 6 hours, the excess liquid removed and the residual magma separated mechanically by centrifuging or a similar process to obtain an ethereal solution of the lipids, pulp and pancreactic juice. The pancreatic juice is treated with ammonium sulphate in a succession of precipitations carried out by introducing 20 g. of ammonium sulphate per litre of pancreatic juice, filtering the precipitate produced, reintroducing 20 g. of ammonium sulphate per litre of filtrate obtained and repeating this operation until saturation, the different precipitates being collected separately. All operations are carried out between 15 DEG and 25 DEG C., preferably between 18 DEG and 22 DEG C. The excess and recovered ethereal solutions may be distilled and the lipids and ether recovered. The precipitates may be dehydrated at a temperature below 50 DEG C., preferably under vacuum, and used in pulverulent form. The process is particularly applicable to the pancreas of pigs.