A simplified procedure for fractionating plant materials.

Sequential extraction of plant materials with methanol–chloroform–water and phenol–acetic acid–water mixtures gave good yields of water-soluble low-molecular-mass substances, lipids, proteins and polysaccharides in separate fractions unlaboriously and with little chemical damage. Results with potato tubers (Solanum tuberosum L.), leafy shoots of lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) and an oilseed (Pentaclethra macrophylla Benth.) are presented.