The superiority of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction technology in the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine. Compared with traditional methods of traditional Chinese medicine, the use of supercritical CO2 extraction technology for research, development, and industrialization of traditional Chinese medicine has many unique advantages.
1. Strong extraction ability and high extraction rate. Extracting effective ingredients from traditional Chinese medicine using supercritical CO2 can almost completely extract the ingredients under the optimal process conditions, greatly improving product yield and resource utilization. Meanwhile, with the continuous progress of supercritical CO2 extraction technology and the application of perfluoropolyether ammonium carbonate (PFPE), supercritical CO2 extraction has been extended to aqueous solution systems, making it possible to extract highly polar compounds such as proteins that are difficult to extract.
2. The extraction ability depends on the density of the fluid and ultimately on temperature and pressure. Changing one or both of them can change the solubility and selectively separate various substances in traditional Chinese medicine, thereby reducing impurities and highly enriching the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine. Easy to reduce dosage and quality control, greatly improving product appearance.
3. Supercritical CO2 has a low critical temperature and low operating temperature, which can effectively preserve the active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine without being damaged and without secondary biochemical reactions. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for extracting components that are highly sensitive to heat and are prone to oxidative decomposition and destruction.
4. Fast extraction time and short production cycle. At the beginning of the supercritical CO2 extraction (dynamic) cycle, separation begins. Generally, the components are separated and separated after 10 minutes of extraction, and can be completely extracted in about 2-4 hours. At the same time, it does not require a concentration step, and even with the addition of entrainer, it can be removed through separation function or simply concentrated.
5. Supercritical CO2 extraction, with easy control of operating parameters, ensures stable effective ingredients and product quality.
6. Supercritical CO2 can also directly extract different parts or extracts from single or compound traditional Chinese medicine for pharmacological screening, developing new drugs, and greatly improving the speed of new drug screening. At the same time, it can extract many substances that cannot be extracted by traditional methods, and it is easier to discover new components from traditional Chinese medicine, thereby discovering new pharmacological properties and developing new drugs.
7. Supercritical CO2 also has antioxidant and sterilization effects, which is beneficial for ensuring and improving product quality.
8. Supercritical fluid extraction has become an efficient analytical method for analysis or in combination with GC, IR, MS, LC, etc. Applying it to the quality analysis of traditional Chinese medicine can objectively reflect the true content of effective ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine.
9. It has been proven through pharmacology and clinical practice that supercritical CO2 extraction of traditional Chinese medicine is not only technologically superior, but also has stable quality and easy standard control. Its pharmacological and clinical effects can be guaranteed or better.
10. The supercritical CO2 extraction process has a simple process, convenient operation, saves labor and a large amount of organic solvents, and reduces the pollution of three wastes. This undoubtedly provides a high-tech new method for the modernization of traditional Chinese medicine extraction, separation, preparation, and concentration.
