Supercritical Fluid Extraction of Pigments from Seeds of Eschscholtzia californica Cham

Eschscholtzia californica Cham. or the California poppy is the state flower of California. The chemical constituents of the epigeous parts of this plant have been extensively investigated for their isoquinoline alkaloid components (1 ,2 ). The hydroalcoholic tincture of the blooming aerial parts is used as an analgesic and sedative even if it does not contain morphinane alkaloids (3 ). Few reports are known about E. californica seeds and their phytochemical pattern is poorly studied (4 –8 ).