Main Process Flow of Plant Extraction
Raw Material Pretreatment
Cleaning, drying, and crushing.
Adjusting particle size to improve extraction efficiency.
Extraction Process
Choose the appropriate method according to the polarity, stability, and other characteristics of the target component:
Water extraction: Commonly used to extract polar substances such as polysaccharides and flavonoids.
Alcohol extraction (ethanol, methanol): Used to extract flavonoids, saponins, alkaloids, etc.
Solvent extraction: Uses petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, etc., for segmented extraction of compounds with different polarities.
Supercritical CO₂ extraction: Suitable for volatile oils and fat-soluble components; environmentally friendly and efficient.
Ultrasonic extraction and microwave-assisted extraction: Improve extraction efficiency and rate.
Separation and Purification
Liquid-liquid extraction
Column chromatography (silica gel column, ion exchange column)
Membrane separation (nanofiltration, reverse osmosis)
Crystallization and precipitation methods
Concentration and Drying
Vacuum concentration
Spray drying: Suitable for extracts with strong thermal stability
Freeze drying: Suitable for heat-sensitive substances
Typical Application Areas of Plant Extracts
Medical Field
Chinese patent medicine preparations: e.g., ginsenosides, baicalin
Development of monomer drugs: e.g., artemisinin (from Artemisia annua), paclitaxel (from Taxus)
Health Food
Antioxidants: grape seed extract (proanthocyanidins), green tea extract (tea polyphenols)
Blood lipid/glucose-lowering agents: bitter melon saponins, hawthorn extract
Refreshing and anti-fatigue effects: extracts of ginseng, ganoderma, wolfberry
Cosmetics
Whitening: arbutin (from bearberry), glycyrrhizic acid (from licorice)
Anti-aging: coenzyme Q10, green tea extract, asiaticoside
Anti-inflammatory and soothing: calendula, chamomile, Centella asiatica extract
Feed Additives
Natural antibiotic substitutes: garlic extract, berberine
Enhancing animal immunity: ganoderma polysaccharides, cordyceps extract
Agriculture
Biological pesticides: pyrethrin, rotenone
Plant growth regulators: seaweed extracts, humic acid
Development Trends
Development of green extraction processes: such as enzymatic methods, supercritical fluids, and natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES)
Standardized production: Precise control of ingredient content to improve batch consistency
Multi-component synergistic research: Exploring the potential of complex functional plant extracts
Integration with modern formulation technologies: such as microcapsules and nanoparticle drug delivery systems