Several microwave assisted extraction methods for extraction of active constituents from Acanthopanax Senticosus Harms

Three microwave-assisted extraction methods( MAEs), pressurized microwave extraction, atmospheric pressure reflux microwave extraction and flow microwave extraction, of flavonoids and saponins from Chinese medicine Acanthopanax Senticosus Harms were studied. The influence of extraction time of every method on the extraction yield of total flavonoids and total saponins was investigated. The experimental results indicate that the pressurized microwave extraction, atmospheric pressure reflux microwave extraction and flow microwave extraction need 10 min, 14 min and 10 min, respectively. But Soxhlet extraction needs 8 h. The extraction yields of total flavonoids by using the four extraction methods are 43. 7, 48. 2, 42. 7 and 34. 7 mg/g, and total saponins are 60. 2, 61. 5,59. 8 and 46. 5 mg/g respectively. Comparing with Soxhlet extraction, not only the MAEs take shorter time, but also the yields of flavonoids and saponins obtained by using MAEs are higher significantly.