Cistanche Active Ingredient Extraction for Stable Controlled Release

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing extraction methods for Cistanche deserticola Ma result in degradation and loss of active ingredients, and lack precise control over effective ingredient release, affecting drug stability and efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A production process involving ultrasonic extraction, centrifugation, membrane separation, vacuum concentration, and drying to control the release of active ingredients, including specific temperature and vacuum conditions to minimize degradation and enhance purity and stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional extraction methods are used, then extraction process is simple, but active ingredients undergo degradation and loss

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestability of active ingredientsVSAvoidcomplexity of extraction process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The extraction process is divided into multiple sequential steps: ultrasonic extraction, centrifugation, membrane separation, vacuum concentration, and drying. Each step targets specific aspects of ingredient preservation and purification, with membrane separation using different pore sizes (0.1-10 microns) to selectively retain different molecular weight components, thereby maintaining active ingredient stability while managing process complexity through systematic segmentation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The process employs controlled parameter changes including temperature control (40-60°C during extraction, lower temperatures during vacuum concentration), vacuum degree control (above -0.08 Mpa), and time control (30-60 minutes extraction time) to optimize extraction efficiency while preventing thermal degradation of active ingredients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Productivity

If traditional extraction methods are used, then process time is short, but extraction efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveextraction efficiency of active ingredientsVSAvoidtotal process time
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Ultrasonic extraction is employed to enhance mass transfer and break cell walls through cavitation and mechanical vibration effects, significantly improving extraction efficiency and amount of active ingredients within 30-60 minutes while reducing extraction temperature requirements

Inventive Principle:
Principle #18Mechanical vibration

Solution Approach 2:

The process implements continuous operation through sequential steps without interruption: ultrasonic extraction continues for 30-60 minutes, followed by continuous centrifugation at 4000 rpm/min, membrane separation, and vacuum concentration, maximizing productivity while minimizing idle time

Inventive Principle:
Principle #20Continuity of useful action

3Productivity

If high temperature concentration is used, then concentration speed is fast, but thermal decomposition of active ingredients occurs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconcentration speedVSAvoidintegrity of active ingredients
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Vacuum concentration is employed to lower the boiling point of water, enabling rapid concentration at temperatures below 65°C. The vacuum degree is controlled above -0.08 Mpa to facilitate phase transition from liquid to vapor at lower temperatures, achieving fast concentration while preventing thermal decomposition of heat-sensitive active ingredients

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

Solution Approach 2:

The vacuum environment creates an inert atmosphere that reduces oxidation of active ingredients during concentration, while the controlled temperature and vacuum conditions prevent both thermal decomposition and oxidative degradation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #39Inert atmosphere (Inert environment)

4Productivity

If high temperature drying is used, then drying speed is fast, but quality and stability of product deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedrying speedVSAvoidquality stability of product
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

Vacuum drying utilizes phase transition of water at lower temperatures (below 70°C) under vacuum conditions (above -0.08 Mpa), enabling fast drying speed while maintaining product quality and stability by avoiding thermal degradation that would occur at higher temperatures

Inventive Principle:
Principle #36Phase transitions

5Manufacturing precision

If membrane separation is used, then purity of active ingredients is improved, but process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepurity of active ingredientsVSAvoidcomplexity of purification process
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Membrane separation using porous membranes with specific pore sizes (0.1-10 microns) is employed to physically separate active ingredients from impurities and insoluble substances. The porous structure allows selective passage of molecules based on size, achieving high purity while the membrane materials (polysulfone, polyethersulfone, or polyamide) provide mechanical strength and chemical stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #31Porous materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The process improves extraction efficiency, reduces energy consumption, and ensures the quality and stability of the active ingredients by minimizing thermal decomposition and oxidation losses, achieving a controlled release formulation with enhanced efficacy.

Implementation Method 1

mixing the powder of Cistanche deserticola Ma with a solvent, and then performing ultrasonic extraction to obtain extraction solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectUltrasonic extraction: Ultrasonic Vibration

Implementation Method 2

performing centrifugation on the extraction solution to remove impurities and insoluble substances to obtain supernatant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugation: Centrifugal Separation

Implementation Method 3

performing membrane separation on the supernatant to obtain a solution containing active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMembrane separation: Semipermeable Membrane

Implementation Method 4

performing vacuum concentration on the solution containing the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma to obtain a concentrated solution

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum concentration: Vacuum Distillation

Implementation Method 5

drying the prepared controlled release formulation of the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma to obtain a dried controlled release product

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVacuum drying: Vacuum

Data Source

PatentUS20260007710A1PRODUCTION PROCESS FOR CONTROLLING THE ACTIVE INGREDIENTS OF Cistanche deserticola Ma
Publication Date: 2026.01.08 SICHUAN JUYUAN CHINESE MEDICINE HERBAL PIECES CO LTD

AI summary

A production process for controlling the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma is provided, including: (1) crushing and screening the raw material of Cistanche deserticola Ma, mixing the powder of Cistanche deserticola Ma with a solvent, and then performing ultrasonic extraction; (2) performing centrifugation on the extraction solution, then performing membrane separation on the supernatant; (3) concentrating the solution containing the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma under vacuum, then mixing the concentrated solution with excipients and stirring evenly to prepare a controlled release formulation; (4) drying the prepared controlled release formulation of the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma to obtain a dried controlled release product of the active ingredients of Cistanche deserticola Ma. By adopting ultrasonic extraction, centrifugal impurity removal, membrane separation, vacuum concentration, and drying, the efficient extraction and purification of active ingredients in Cistanche deserticola Ma have been achieved, improving product quality and stability.