A codonopsis product and extract with increased active ingredient content and a method of preparation

Abstract

The present application belongs to the technical field of traditional Chinese medicine processing, and particularly relates to a radix codonopsis product with improved active ingredient content, an extract and a preparation method. The radix codonopsis product is prepared by mixing pre-processed honey with radix codonopsis crude medicinal materials, standing and treating, and then steaming until the moisture content of the radix codonopsis is 12-18%, to obtain a honey-radix codonopsis steaming product; and frying the honey-radix codonopsis steaming product at 110-130 DEG C until the moisture content is less than 5%, to obtain a honey-radix codonopsis product. The preparation method of the technical solution can improve the content of polysaccharides and saponins in radix codonopsis, while avoiding the negative effects of Maillard reaction, avoiding the generation of harmful by-products, and the obtained radix codonopsis product can also be used for the preparation of radix codonopsis extract. The technical solution solves the technical problem of unsatisfactory content of polysaccharides, saponins and other effective ingredients in the radix codonopsis product containing honey in the prior art, and has an ideal application and promotion prospect.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention belongs to the field of traditional Chinese medicine processing technology, specifically relating to a Codonopsis pilosula product and extract with increased active ingredient content, as well as a preparation method thereof. Background Technology

[0002] Codonopsis pilosula, commonly known as "little ginseng," is a key herb for replenishing qi, just like ginseng. They have many similar effects. Ginseng is more potent and expensive, while Codonopsis pilosula is milder and often used in dietary therapy. It is cheaper and therefore used in larger quantities.

[0003] The 2020 edition of the Chinese Pharmacopoeia requires that ginseng contain ginsenoside Rg1 (C 42 H 72 O 14 ) and Ginsenoside Re(C 48 H 82 O 18 The total amount of ginsenoside Rb1 (C) shall not be less than 0.27%, and the total amount of ginsenoside Rb1 (C) shall not be less than 0.27%. 54 H 92 O 23 The content of active ingredients in Codonopsis pilosula should not be less than 0.18%. Although the pharmacopoeia does not specify any requirements for the active ingredients of Codonopsis pilosula, both Codonopsis pilosula and ginseng are tonic Chinese medicinal herbs. The polysaccharides, saponins, flavonoids, and alkaloids contained in Codonopsis pilosula have varying degrees of strengthening effects on multiple organs of the human body. Therefore, maximizing the concentration of active ingredients in Codonopsis pilosula is crucial for enhancing its efficacy. In practice, Codonopsis pilosula is often subjected to various types of pretreatment to enrich its effects. For example, honey-codone products made by adding honey to Codonopsis pilosula can enhance its effects of tonifying the middle energizer, replenishing qi, moistening dryness, and nourishing yin. Codonopsis pilosula products containing honey can be used to prepare health-preserving teas and soups, and the active ingredients can be further enriched through extraction. According to Peng Peng et al., after adding honey to Codonopsis pilosula for processing, the polysaccharide content of Codonopsis pilosula will increase to a certain extent (Peng Peng et al., Effects of Different Processing Methods on Polysaccharide Content in Astragalus and Codonopsis pilosula, Chinese Veterinary Medicine Journal, 2008). The research results of Chen Hao et al. also verified the above phenomenon, that is, adding honey to Codonopsis pilosula during stir-frying can increase the polysaccharide content in Codonopsis pilosula products (Chen Hao, The Influence of Different Processing Methods on the Chemical Composition and Product Quality of Codonopsis pilosula, Chinese Patent Medicine, 2019).

[0004] During the pretreatment of traditional Chinese medicinal materials, Maillard reactions occur to varying degrees, which can affect the content of their active ingredients to some extent. The Maillard reaction, also known as the carbonyl-amine reaction, is a non-enzymatic browning reaction widely found in the food industry and the processing of traditional Chinese medicine. It involves the condensation and polymerization of amino compounds (proteins, polypeptides, amino acids, etc.) and carbonyl compounds (reducing sugars, unsaturated fatty acids, aldehydes, ketones, etc.) to produce brown substances such as melanoidins. Because many pharmaceutical products contain primary or secondary amines, and their excipients contain reducing monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides (such as glucose, lactose, and starch), or the drugs themselves contain carbonyl compounds such as sugars, the degradation of active ingredients due to the Maillard reaction is often observed. Maillard reaction produces a wide variety of complex products, including intermediates such as aldehydes, ketones, pyrazines, pyrroles, furfural, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF), acrylamide, and heterocyclic amines, as well as glycosylation terminus such as carboxymethyl lysine, carboxyethyl lysine, and furosine.

[0005] During the heat treatment of Codonopsis pilosula (e.g., baking, stir-frying), the active ingredients undergo Maillard reaction, forming 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) or other substances. Excessive Maillard reaction can lead to a decrease in the content of polysaccharides, saponins, and other active ingredients, as well as the consumption of nutrients such as proteins, amino acids, reducing sugars, and unsaturated fatty acids. For example, Wang Xiaoyan et al. reported that rice-fried Codonopsis pilosula products lead to a decrease in the total saponin content (Wang Xiaoyan, Quality Evaluation Study of Commercially Available Achyranthes bidentata and Codonopsis pilosula Slices, Master's Thesis, Xinjiang Medical University, 2021); Chen Hao et al. also reported that rice-fried Codonopsis pilosula products lead to a decrease in polysaccharide content (Chen Hao, Effects of Different Processing Methods on the Chemical Composition and Product Quality of Codonopsis pilosula, Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2019). Although some reports suggest that honey processing can prevent a decrease in polysaccharide content, the introduction of honey during the preparation of honey-processed Codonopsis pilosula products increases the likelihood of the fructose and glucose in the honey undergoing Maillard reactions, further accelerating the consumption of nutrients (proteins, peptides, amino acids, etc.). Therefore, it is crucial to improve the quality of Codonopsis pilosula products by steadily and effectively increasing the content of active ingredients such as polysaccharides and saponins while simultaneously reducing the consumption of nutrients by Maillard reactions and minimizing undesirable byproducts (e.g., 5-hydroxymethylfurfural) during the honey-processing process. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a method for preparing Codonopsis pilosula products with increased content of active ingredients, in order to solve the technical problem that the content of polysaccharides and saponins and other active ingredients in Codonopsis pilosula products containing honey is not ideal in the prior art.

[0007] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0008] A method for preparing Codonopsis pilosula products with increased active ingredient content involves mixing pretreated honey with raw Codonopsis pilosula, allowing it to stand, and then steaming it until the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula is 12-18% to obtain honey-codonopsis pilosula steamed product; then stir-frying the honey-codonopsis pilosula steamed product at a temperature of 110-130℃ until the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula is <5% to obtain honey-codonopsis pilosula product.

[0009] This technical solution also provides a method for preparing Codonopsis pilosula products with increased content of active ingredients, resulting in honey-Codonopsis pilosula products.

[0010] This technical solution also provides a method for preparing an extract of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products, wherein the honey-Codonopsis pilosula products are pulverized and passed through an 80-mesh sieve, and then extracted with hot water to obtain the extract.

[0011] This technical solution also provides a method for preparing an extract from honey-Codonopsis pilosula products.

[0012] Furthermore, the mass ratio of honey to raw Codonopsis pilosula is 10-30:100.

[0013] Furthermore, the honey is pretreated by heating it at 40℃-80℃ until the dense small bubbles that appear at the beginning of heating change to sparse large bubbles and the color changes from beige to reddish-brown.

[0014] Furthermore, the settling time is 8-12 hours.

[0015] Furthermore, the stir-frying time is 1-15 minutes.

[0016] Furthermore, based on the raw Codonopsis pilosula material, the total polysaccharides in honey-Codonopsis pilosula products are ≥15.2mg / g, the total saponins are ≥2.6mg / g, and the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content is ≤0.15mg / g.

[0017] Furthermore, the hot water extraction was performed twice at a temperature of 90℃, with each extraction lasting 1 hour.

[0018] The principle and beneficial effects of this technical solution are as follows:

[0019] This technical solution uses a mixture of honey and Codonopsis pilosula, steamed and then stir-fried to obtain a honey-Codonopsis pilosula product. Adding honey enhances the effects of Codonopsis pilosula in tonifying the middle energizer, replenishing qi, moistening dryness, and nourishing yin. Furthermore, under appropriate processing conditions, adding honey can simultaneously increase the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of the honey-Codonopsis pilosula product while avoiding excessive Maillard reactions. Ordinary stir-frying or steaming of Codonopsis pilosula alone leads to a decrease in the total polysaccharide and total saponin content; however, the addition of honey avoids this phenomenon. However, the addition of honey introduces reducing sugars, exacerbating the Maillard reaction and introducing a large amount of carbonyl compounds, which can generate a large amount of the intermediate product 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. 5-hydroxymethylfurfural is a furan ring compound produced by the dehydration of monosaccharide compounds such as glucose under high temperature or weak acid conditions; it is a potentially hazardous endogenous contaminant in pharmaceuticals. Furthermore, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural can react with substances containing amino groups, leading to the depletion of nutrients (proteins, peptides, etc.). The key to this approach is to steadily and effectively increase the content of active ingredients such as polysaccharides and saponins, while simultaneously reducing the consumption of nutrients by the Maillard reaction and minimizing undesirable byproducts. Through extensive research, the inventors discovered that a method of steaming (adjusting the moisture content of the Codonopsis pilosula to a certain level) followed by stir-frying after mixing honey and Codonopsis pilosula effectively reduces the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) while ensuring that the total polysaccharide and total saponin content reaches ideal levels. If the stir-frying method is changed to baking, the formation of 5-HMF is difficult to reduce effectively, and the increase in total polysaccharide content is limited. Omitting the steaming step before stir-frying, or using soaking instead of steaming to adjust the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula, will result in unsatisfactory increases in total polysaccharide and total saponin content. Furthermore, omitting the steaming step before stir-frying can lead to excessively high 5-HMF content. In addition, by steaming the Codonopsis pilosula and honey mixture to adjust the moisture content of the Codonopsis pilosula to about 15% and adjusting the frying temperature to about 120℃, the total polysaccharide and total saponin content can be maximized, and the byproduct 5-hydroxymethylfurfural can be avoided. Detailed Implementation

[0020] The present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to embodiments, but the implementation of the present invention is not limited thereto. Unless otherwise specified, the technical means used in the following embodiments and experimental examples are conventional means well known to those skilled in the art, and the materials and reagents used can all be obtained commercially.

[0021] Example 1: Preparation of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products

[0022] Honey (10%-30% of the raw medicinal material weight, specifically 20% in this example) is heated at 50℃ (optional range 40℃-80℃) until sparse, large bubbles appear, and the honey color changes from light yellow to reddish-brown. Then, water is added at 10% (optional range 5%-20%) of the honey weight to dilute the honey. This diluted honey is poured into the raw Codonopsis pilosula material in small batches, stirring thoroughly with the raw medicinal material (the raw medicinal material refers to dried material; the moisture content of the raw medicinal material used in this experiment is approximately 4%; slices are used after slicing, with a slice thickness of approximately 5mm). The mixture is left to stand overnight (8 hours, 8-12 hours is optional). Then, it is steamed with water to reduce the moisture content of the Codonopsis pilosula material to approximately 15%, obtaining a honey-Codonopsis pilosula steamed product. Next, the honey-Codonopsis pilosula steamed product is heated and stir-fried at 120℃ for 10-15 minutes (15 minutes in this example), which will reduce the moisture content to approximately 5%, thus obtaining the honey-Codonopsis pilosula product. Because Codonopsis pilosula is both a medicinal and edible herb, and honey is a common food, this honey-Codonopsis pilosula product can be used as food or medicine. For example, it can be used directly in cooking or brewing tea, or it can be used as honey-processed Codonopsis pilosula slices in the preparation of corresponding traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions. In addition, honey-Codonopsis pilosula products can also be used for subsequent extraction of polysaccharides or saponins to enrich the active ingredients.

[0023] In addition, the inventors studied the moisture content of honey-codonopsis steamed products, including 10%, 12%, 15%, 18%, and 20%. The inventors also studied the frying temperature, including 100℃, 110℃, 120℃, 130℃, and 140℃.

[0024] The polysaccharide and saponin content of this honey-Codonopsis product was detected using the following specific methods:

[0025] (1) Detection of total polysaccharide content

[0026] Preparation of polysaccharide reference solution: Take an appropriate amount of anhydrous glucose reference standard, accurately weigh it, add water to make a solution containing 90 μg per ml.

[0027] Preparation of the standard curve: Accurately measure 0.2 ml, 0.4 ml, 0.6 ml, 0.8 ml, and 1.0 ml of the reference solution and place them into 10 ml stoppered test tubes respectively. Add water to each tube to bring the volume to 1.0 ml. Accurately add 1 ml of 5% phenol solution (prepare immediately before use), shake well, and then accurately add 5 ml of sulfuric acid. Shake well, heat in a boiling water bath for 20 minutes, remove, and cool in an ice bath for 5 minutes. Using the corresponding reagents as blanks, measure the absorbance at a wavelength of 488 nm using ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (General Rule 0401). Plot the standard curve with absorbance as the ordinate and concentration as the abscissa.

[0028] Preparation of the test solution: Accurately weigh approximately 0.3g of honey-Codonopsis pilosula powder (passed through a No. 3 sieve), add 200ml of water, heat under reflux for 2 hours, cool, transfer to a 250ml volumetric flask, wash the container several times with a small amount of water, combine the washings in the same volumetric flask, add water to the mark, shake well, filter, accurately measure 2ml of the filtrate, place it in a 15ml centrifuge tube, accurately add 10ml of anhydrous ethanol (alcohol precipitation enriches polysaccharides, a routine method for extracting polysaccharides from samples), shake well, refrigerate for 1 hour, remove, centrifuge (at 4000 rpm) for 20 minutes, discard the supernatant (filter if necessary), wash the precipitate twice with 80% ethanol, 8ml each time, centrifuge, discard the supernatant, dissolve the precipitate in hot water, transfer to a 25ml volumetric flask, cool, add water to the mark, shake well, and the test solution is ready.

[0029] Assay: Accurately measure 1 ml of the test solution and place it in a 10 ml stoppered test tube. Following the method under the preparation of the standard curve, starting from "accurately add 1 ml of 5% phenol solution", determine the absorbance according to the method. Read the amount of anhydrous glucose in the test solution from the standard curve and calculate the result.

[0030] Based on dried product, Codonopsis pilosula polysaccharides are expressed as anhydrous glucose (C6H4O3). 12 O6) calculation.

[0031] (2) Detection of total saponin content (see T / GDFDTAEC 03-2022 Determination of total saponins in health foods - spectrophotometry)

[0032] Preparation of standard solutions: Ginsenoside Re standard stock solution (0.2 mg / mL): Accurately weigh 10.0 mg of ginsenoside Re reference standard (accurate to 0.1 mg) into a 50 mL volumetric flask, dissolve in methanol and dilute to the mark, and shake well.

[0033] Sample preparation: Weigh 1 g (accurate to 0.001 g) of the pulverized and thoroughly mixed sample (passed through a 50-mesh sieve) and place it in a 50 mL centrifuge tube. Add 25 mL of water-saturated n-butanol, vortex to mix, sonicate for 30 min, centrifuge at 4000 rpm for 10 min, and transfer the supernatant to a 250 mL separatory funnel. Repeat the above extraction steps twice, sonicating for 10 min each time, and combine the n-butanol solutions. Wash twice with 50 mL of ammonia solution each time, transfer the supernatant to a 100 mL volumetric flask, and dilute to the mark with n-butanol for later use.

[0034] Sample determination:

[0035] Preparation of the standard curve: Accurately pipette 0 mL, 0.2 mL, 0.4 mL, 0.6 mL, 0.8 mL, and 1.0 mL of ginsenoside Re standard solution into 10 mL stoppered colorimetric tubes. Evaporate the solvent at 80 °C using a nitrogen evaporator. Accurately add 0.2 mL of vanillin-glacial acetic acid solution, followed by 0.8 mL of perchloric acid. Mix well until all residue is dissolved. Heat in a water bath at 60 °C ± 1 °C for 10 min. Remove from the water and cool to room temperature in an ice bath. Accurately add 5.0 mL of glacial acetic acid and mix well. Within 30 min, measure the absorbance of each tube at 560 nm using a 1 cm cuvette, with a blank tube as a reference.

[0036] Determination of the sample solution: Accurately transfer an appropriate amount of the prepared test solution (containing approximately 0.04 mg to 0.2 mg of the analyte) into a 10 mL colorimetric tube, evaporate the solvent at 80 °C using a nitrogen evaporator, add 0.2 mL of vanillin-glacial acetic acid solution, then add 0.8 mL of perchloric acid, mix well to dissolve all residues, heat accurately in a water bath at 60 °C ± 1 °C for 10 min, remove, cool to room temperature in an ice bath, add 5.0 mL of glacial acetic acid, shake well, and determine the absorbance value using the same method as the standard solution.

[0037] Sample blank: Take the same volume of sample solution into a 10 mL stoppered colorimetric tube, evaporate the solvent at 80 °C using a nitrogen blower, add 0.2 mL of glacial acetic acid, then add 0.8 mL of perchloric acid, mix well to dissolve all residues, heat accurately in a 60 °C ± 1 °C water bath for 10 min, remove, cool to room temperature in an ice bath, add 5.0 mL of glacial acetic acid, shake well, and determine the absorbance value using the same method as the standard solution.

[0038] (3) 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (T / GDFCA 082 Determination of 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural content in health foods and Chinese medicinal materials by high performance liquid chromatography)

[0039] In experimental studies, the production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) was used to evaluate the negative effects and extent of the Maillard reaction. 5-HMF has toxic side effects on human skeletal muscle, internal organs, genes, and nerves; therefore, its production should be minimized.

[0040] Standard stock solution (1000 mg / L): Accurately weigh 10 mg (accurate to 0.1 mL) of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural standard, dissolve it in methanol and dilute to 10 mL, then mix thoroughly.

[0041] Standard working solutions: Pipette an appropriate amount of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural standard stock solution into a 10 mL volumetric flask, dilute with water to the mark, and prepare standard working solutions of 0.5 mg / L, 10 mg / L, 2.0 mg / L, 5.0 mg / L, 10.0 mg / L, 20.0 mg / L, and 100.0 mg / L. The concentration of the solution can be adjusted appropriately according to the sample content. Prepare fresh solutions immediately before use.

[0042] Sample pretreatment: Take an appropriate amount of solid sample, mix well, and grind finely; or take an appropriate amount of semi-solid sample (such as the contents of soft capsules), mix well, and accurately weigh 0.5g-5.0g (accurate to 0.00) into a 50ml volumetric flask. Add 40mL of water and sonicate for 30min in an ultrasonic water bath at 30-40℃. Remove and cool to room temperature, then dilute to the mark with water, shake well, and centrifuge at 4000r / min for 5min. Filter the supernatant through a 0.45μm microporous membrane and collect the filtrate for analysis.

[0043] Measurement:

[0044] ①Liquid chromatography conditions:

[0045] Chromatographic column: C18 column, 250mm × 4.6mm, 5m; or equivalent performance;

[0046] Column temperature: 30℃;

[0047] Mobile phase: methanol + water (10 + 90, volume ratio), isocratic elution;

[0048] Detection wavelength: 284nm;

[0049] Injection volume: 10 μL;

[0050] Flow rate: 1.0 mL / min.

[0051] ② Liquid chromatography determination

[0052] The standard working solution and sample solution were detected under the above chromatographic conditions to obtain the peak area of ​​5-hydroxymethylfurfural in the corresponding standard working solution and sample solution. A standard curve was plotted with concentration as the abscissa and peak area as the ordinate. The retention time was used to qualitatively identify the sample, and the external standard method of the standard curve was used to quantify the sample.

[0053] The test results are shown in Table 1. According to the results, the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of Codonopsis pilosula without honey during steaming and stir-frying was not ideal. After steaming and stir-frying, the total polysaccharide and total saponin content increased to varying degrees. Generally, directly heating Codonopsis pilosula (without adding other excipients) will lead to a decrease in total saponin and polysaccharide content when the processing temperature rises to a certain level, and will also cause a certain degree of Maillard reaction, resulting in a darker color and the production of byproducts. This technical solution adds honey during the processing of Codonopsis pilosula, initially aiming to enrich the material composition of the Codonopsis pilosula product and enhance its effects of tonifying the middle energizer, replenishing qi, moistening dryness, and nourishing yin. The inventors discovered during the experiment that adding honey in an appropriate form can increase the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of Codonopsis pilosula products. For details, please refer to the experimental data in Table 1, No. 1 and Table 1, No. 4 (9) (the processing technology of Table 1, No. 4 and No. 9 is the same, and the data is repeated for easy comparison). Honey was added to Codonopsis pilosula and steamed and stir-fried successively, which increased the total polysaccharide and saponin content in Codonopsis pilosula products. Since honey itself contains a large amount of sugar, its introduction into Codonopsis pilosula and subsequent heating will intensify the Maillard reaction and produce substances such as 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. In order to avoid the generation of by-products, the inventors studied the preparation process and found that the stir-frying temperature and the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula after steaming not only affect the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, but also affect the total polysaccharide content of Codonopsis pilosula products. Under a certain stir-frying temperature, as the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula after steaming increases, the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products is effectively improved, and the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of the product is most ideal under the condition of 15% moisture content. With a fixed moisture content in the steamed Codonopsis pilosula, the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content increased with increasing roasting temperature, and the total polysaccharide and total saponin content were most ideal at 120℃. Specifically, compared to item 10 in Table 1, although there was only a 10℃ difference in roasting temperature, significant differences were observed in all three indicators (t-test, p < 0.05). Similarly, compared to item 8 in Table 1, although there was only a 10℃ difference in roasting temperature, significant differences were observed in the total saponin content (t-test, p < 0.05). This further illustrates the unexpected technical effect achieved by choosing a roasting temperature of 120℃. Therefore, the optimal conditions for preparing honey-Codonopsis pilosula products are: adjusting the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula to 15% (15-18% optional) through steaming, and roasting at 120℃, which simultaneously ensures a low 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production and high total polysaccharide and total saponin content.

[0054] Table 1: Results of detection of total polysaccharide, total saponin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content (all contents are calculated based on the mass of the raw medicinal material, i.e., the amount of the target substance (mg) obtained is divided by the corresponding mass of the raw medicinal material (g); the experimental results are the average of three replicates)

[0055]

[0056]

[0057] Example 2: Preparation of Codonopsis pilosula extract

[0058] The honey-Codonopsis pilosula product obtained in Example 1 (using the following parameters: 15% water content in the steamed honey-Codonopsis pilosula product, and a roasting temperature of 120℃) was cooled, pulverized to 80 mesh, and extracted with hot water (90℃, 1h) twice. After filtration, it was concentrated under normal pressure to obtain Codonopsis pilosula extract. The total polysaccharide content of the Codonopsis pilosula extract was measured to be 13.8 mg / g, and the total saponin content was 1.9 mg / g. The total polysaccharide content or saponin content is calculated by dividing the amount of the target substance (mg) in the extracted material by the mass (g) of the corresponding raw medicinal material. This example used a conventional water extraction method, which may result in insufficient extraction. Therefore, the total polysaccharide and total saponin contents in the obtained Codonopsis pilosula extract are lower than the contents of the active substances in the corresponding medicinal material in Example 1.

[0059] Comparative Example 1: Preparation of Honey-Codonopsis pilosula Products

[0060] The process was basically the same as in Example 1, except that the honey-Codonopsis pilosula steamed product was prepared by baking instead of stir-frying at temperatures of 60℃, 80℃, and 120℃. The experimental results are detailed in Table 2. This comparative example used baking to prepare the honey-Codonopsis pilosula product. Comparing the data in Table 2 (number 3) and Table 1 (number 4), significant differences were found between the two groups in total polysaccharide content and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content (t-test, p < 0.05). This further demonstrates that stir-frying, compared to baking, plays a crucial role in preventing the formation of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and increasing the total polysaccharide content.

[0061] Table 2: Results of detection of total polysaccharide, total saponin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content (the calculation method for each content is based on the mass of the raw medicinal material, that is, the amount of the target substance (mg) obtained is divided by the corresponding mass of the raw medicinal material (g); the experimental results are the average of three replicates)

[0062]

[0063]

[0064] Comparative Example 2: Preparation of Honey-Codonopsis pilosula Products

[0065] The raw medicinal material, Codonopsis pilosula, was sliced ​​(5mm thick) and soaked in water until its moisture content reached 15%. It was then dried at a low temperature of 60℃ until the moisture content was less than 5%. Honey was heated at a low temperature of 50℃ until sparse, large bubbles formed, and the honey color changed from light yellow to reddish-brown. It was then diluted with 10% water to obtain a diluted honey solution, which was poured into the raw Codonopsis pilosula in small amounts several times. The mixture was thoroughly mixed with the raw Codonopsis pilosula and left to stand overnight (8 hours). It was then removed and air-dried naturally to obtain the honey-Codonopsis pilosula product (moisture content less than 5%). The polysaccharide and saponin content of this honey-Codonopsis pilosula product was tested. The amount of honey used was 10%-30% of the raw material weight; in this example, 20% was used. The total polysaccharide content, total saponin content, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content were tested and found to be 8 mg / g, 1.1 mg / g, and 0.17 mg / g, respectively. Using this comparative method, neither steaming nor stir-frying was employed to adjust the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula, making it difficult to effectively increase the content of total polysaccharides and total saponins.

[0066] Comparative Example 3: Preparation of Honey-Codonopsis pilosula Products

[0067] The raw medicinal material, Codonopsis pilosula, was sliced ​​(5mm thick) and soaked in water to achieve a moisture content of 12%, 15%, and 18%, respectively. Then, it was mixed with roasted honey (roasted using the same method as described above) and left to stand overnight (8 hours). Finally, it was roasted according to the method described in Example 1. The experimental results are shown in Table 3. Compared to the process in Example 1, this comparative example changed the method of adjusting the moisture content of the Codonopsis pilosula from steaming to direct soaking. After soaking to adjust the moisture content, honey was added and mixed, and finally, it was roasted. Comparing the experimental data in Table 3 with those in Tables 1 (numbers 3, 4, and 5), the operation method in this comparative example can effectively avoid the generation of the toxic byproduct 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. However, the total polysaccharide content and total saponin content in this comparative example are not ideal. For example, comparing Codonopsis pilosula (Dang Shen) ingredient number 2 in Table 3 with ingredient number 4 in Table 1, both groups had the same moisture content. However, after stir-frying, there were significant differences in the total polysaccharide and total saponin content between the two groups (t-test, p < 0.05). This shows that adjusting the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula is crucial for increasing the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products. Comparing ingredient number 2 in Table 3 with ingredient number 4 in Table 1, steaming, compared to soaking, increased the total polysaccharide content of Codonopsis pilosula to 15%, resulting in an increase of approximately 15% in total polysaccharide and approximately 40% in total saponin content. The inventors analyzed that the process of mixing and steaming Codonopsis pilosula and honey is crucial for increasing the total polysaccharide content of the product. Adjusting the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula affects the quality of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products (reflected in the total polysaccharide and total saponin content), which was something the inventors could not have predicted before the experiment.

[0068] Table 3: Results of detection of total polysaccharide, total saponin and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content (all contents are calculated based on the mass of the raw medicinal material, i.e., the amount of the target substance (mg) obtained is divided by the corresponding mass of the raw medicinal material (g); the experimental results are the average of three replicates)

[0069]

[0070] Comparative Example 4: Preparation of Honey-Codonopsis pilosula Products

[0071] This comparative example is basically the same as Example 1, except that it does not involve a steaming process. The specific operation method is as follows:

[0072] Honey (20% of the raw material weight, specifically 20% in this example) was heated at 50°C until sparse, large bubbles formed, and the honey color changed from light yellow to reddish-brown. Then, water (10% of the honey weight) was added to dilute the honey, and this diluted solution was poured into the raw Codonopsis pilosula material in small batches, stirring thoroughly. (The raw material refers to dried medicinal material; the moisture content of the raw material used in this experiment was approximately 4%; slices were used after slicing, with slices approximately 5mm thick.) The mixture was then left to stand overnight (8 hours). Next, the honey-Codonopsis pilosula mixture was heated and stir-fried at 120°C until the moisture content decreased to less than 5%. The honey-Codonopsis pilosula product was tested and found to contain: total polysaccharide content 10.2 mg / g, total saponin content 1.3 mg / g, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content 0.44 mg / g. The color of different samples was detected using a WSL-2 comparative colorimeter. The larger the colorimeter result, the darker the sample color, which indirectly indicates the extent of the Maillard reaction. The samples were tested at different heating temperatures. The higher the temperature (60-160℃ for roasting), the darker the sample color. The experimental results are shown in Table 4.

[0073] Comparing the data in Table 1, number 9, with the data from the comparative example processed at 120℃, significant differences were found in the total polysaccharide content, total saponin content, and 5-hydroxymethylfurfural content between the two groups (t-test, p < 0.05). This indicates that although the comparative example mixed the dried medicinal materials with honey and left it overnight, the small amount of moisture in the honey could not fully penetrate the Codonopsis pilosula medicinal materials. Without steaming, the internal moisture content of the Codonopsis pilosula medicinal materials would be difficult to reach 15%. Processing the honey-Codonopsis pilosula mixture under these conditions would increase the extent of the Maillard reaction, leading to an increase in 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production and a decrease in both total polysaccharide and total saponin content. Comparing Table 1, number 9, and this technical solution, the 5-hydroxymethylfurfural production in this solution is approximately three times that of Table 1, number 9 (an increase of nearly 200%), while the total polysaccharide and total saponin contents decreased by approximately 30% and 50%, respectively. The above data demonstrates that adjusting the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula to approximately 15% through steaming plays a crucial role in preventing the Maillard reaction and simultaneously increasing the total polysaccharide and total saponin content of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products. Existing technologies have not reported on the aforementioned steaming method and its key effects; this is the inventor's first independent discovery, providing a practical and feasible way to improve the quality of honey-Codonopsis pilosula products.

[0074] Table 4: Results of WSL-2 Comparative Colorimeter

[0075] serial number Stir-frying temperature (°C) Colorimeter results 1 (Codonopsis pilosula raw material powder) —— Yellow: 19; Red: 9; Blue: 11.9 2 60 Yellow: 19.5 Red: 9 Blue: 12 3 80 Yellow: 20; Red: 9; Blue: 11.7 4 100 Yellow: 21.6 Red: 9 Blue: 12.1 5 120 Yellow: 22; Red: 9; Blue: 12.3 6 140 Yellow: 29; Red: 9; Blue: 12.5

[0076] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of the present invention, and common knowledge such as specific technical solutions and / or characteristics are not described in detail here. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make various modifications and improvements without departing from the technical solutions of the present invention, and these should also be considered within the scope of protection of the present invention. These modifications and improvements will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of the present invention or the practicality of the patent. The scope of protection claimed in this application should be determined by the content of its claims, and the specific embodiments described in the specification can be used to interpret the content of the claims.

Claims

1. A method for preparing Codonopsis pilosula products with increased content of active ingredients, characterized in that: The pretreated honey is mixed with the raw Codonopsis pilosula, left to stand for 8-12 hours, and then steamed until the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula is 15% to obtain honey-codonopsis pilosula steamed product; the honey-codonopsis pilosula steamed product is then stir-fried at 120℃ for 10-15 minutes until the moisture content of Codonopsis pilosula is <5% to obtain honey-codonopsis pilosula product. The mass ratio of honey to raw Codonopsis pilosula is 10-30:

100. The honey pretreatment method is as follows: heat the honey at a temperature of 40℃-80℃ until the dense small bubbles that appear at the beginning of heating change to sparse large bubbles and the color changes from beige to reddish brown; then add 5%-20% water by weight of the honey to dilute the honey.

2. The honey-Codonopsis product obtained by the method for preparing Codonopsis pilosula products with increased active ingredient content according to claim 1.

3. The method for preparing the extract of honey-Codonopsis pilosula product according to claim 2, characterized in that, The honey-Codonopsis pilosula product was pulverized and passed through an 80-mesh sieve, then extracted with hot water to obtain the extract.

4. The method for preparing the extract of honey-Codonopsis pilosula product according to claim 3, characterized in that, The hot water extraction was performed twice at a temperature of 90℃, with each extraction lasting 1 hour.

5. The extract obtained by the method for preparing the honey-Codonopsis pilosula extract according to claim 4.

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