Plant Extract Preparation via Microwave Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional herbal tea preparation is time-consuming and inefficient, leading to low bioavailability and dosage of active ingredients, while existing galenic forms like powders require large quantities and have integrity issues during processing.
Innovation Solution
A process involving contact with a solvent, extraction under controlled microwave and reduced pressure, and drying to impregnate active principles back onto the plant material, ensuring completeness and bioavailability without drastic treatment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional herbal tea is prepared using decoction method, then bioavailability and effectiveness are improved, but preparation time and labor increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-extracting active principles from plant material using microwave heating and reduced pressure before the actual infusion. This preliminary extraction concentrates the active ingredients in the plant material itself, so that when water is added during infusion, the active principles are already available for rapid dissolution, dramatically reducing the required infusion time while maintaining bioavailability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes by employing microwave heating instead of conventional boiling, and by operating under reduced pressure conditions during extraction. These parameter changes enable faster, more efficient extraction of active principles while preserving their integrity, allowing the plant material to be prepared in advance and then quickly reconstituted during use.
2Ease of operation
If plant material is dried and ground into powder, then storage and portability are improved, but bioavailability and integrity of constituents deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by using controlled drying conditions (reduced pressure, moderate temperature) during the extraction process itself, rather than separate drastic drying steps. This allows the plant material to be dried in a way that preserves the integrity of its constituents and maintains bioavailability, while still achieving the storage benefits of a dry, concentrated form.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical grinding and drying processes with a chemical-extraction-based approach using microwave heating and reduced pressure. This substitution allows the active principles to be extracted and concentrated within the plant material structure itself, avoiding the damaging mechanical processing that would compromise integrity and bioavailability.
3Quantity of substance
If large quantities of plant material are used, then dosage of active ingredients is improved, but preparation complexity and resource consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-concentrating the active ingredients in the plant material through microwave extraction and reduced pressure treatment. This concentration step reduces the quantity of plant material needed for effective dosage, as the active principles are already condensed within the treated material, simplifying the overall preparation process while maintaining adequate dosage levels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes parameter changes (microwave heating, reduced pressure) to enhance the extraction efficiency and concentration of active ingredients. These parameter changes allow for more effective extraction from smaller quantities of plant material, reducing the overall scale of preparation required while maintaining therapeutic dosage levels.
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
This process enhances bioavailability and reduces preparation time, allowing for concentrated herbal teas with increased active ingredient quantity, maintaining the integrity of plant components and overcoming the drawbacks of traditional powders.
Implementation Method 1
a step of contact between the plant material and a solvent; at least one step of extracting the active principles
Implementation Method 2
The extraction is carried out under microwave and reduced pressure
Implementation Method 3
The extraction is carried out under microwave and reduced pressure, to be followed by a drying step
Implementation Method 4
a drying step... The extraction is carried out under microwave and reduced pressure, to be followed by a drying step
Data Source
AI summary
Preparation of a plant extract from plant material comprises contacting the plant material and a solvent, extracting an active ingredient and drying. An independent claim is included for a plant extract obtained by the process, where the active ingredients are fixed on the plant material.