Single-Step Hydro-Alcoholic Extraction of TCM Herbs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing processes for producing herbal extracts for Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) products like MLC601 and MLC901 are complex, time-consuming, and costly, requiring multiple extraction steps and the use of volatile oils, which complicates the manufacturing process and reduces reproducibility.
Innovation Solution
A simplified process involving a single extraction step using a hydro-alcoholic solvent with specific herbs like Radix Astragali, Rhizome of Ligusticum Chuanxiong, Radix Angelicae sinensis, and Radix Polygalae, omitting the need for volatile oil removal and alcohol precipitation, and allowing for the optional inclusion of additional herbs like Radix Salviae Miltiorrhizae and Rhizoma Acori tatarinowii.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction steps and volatile oil removal are used, then extraction completeness is improved, but process complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple extraction steps into a single extraction operation by using a hydro-alcoholic solvent system that can simultaneously extract multiple active constituents from the herbal materials. This merging of extraction steps maintains extraction completeness while significantly reducing process complexity and time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the solvent parameters by using a hydro-alcoholic solvent system with specific alcohol concentration ranges (60-80% v/v) instead of pure water or pure alcohol. This parameter change enables single-step extraction to achieve the same extraction completeness as multiple steps while simplifying the overall process.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction steps are used, then extraction completeness is improved, but processing time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple sequential extraction steps into a single extraction operation using a hydro-alcoholic solvent. This approach achieves comparable extraction completeness to multiple steps but reduces processing time from several hours to a single extraction cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The hydro-alcoholic solvent system enables continuous extraction of multiple active constituents simultaneously in a single operation, maintaining high extraction efficiency while eliminating the time losses associated with multiple sequential extraction steps and intermediate processing.
3Manufacturing precision
If volatile oil removal and alcohol precipitation are used, then product purity is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent takes out the unnecessary steps of volatile oil removal and alcohol precipitation by using a hydro-alcoholic solvent system that directly produces extracts of sufficient purity. This eliminates energy-intensive evaporation and precipitation steps while maintaining product purity through the selective solubility properties of the hydro-alcoholic solvent.
Solution Approach 2:
By changing the solvent parameters to use hydro-alcoholic mixtures with controlled alcohol concentrations, the patent achieves direct extraction of pure active constituents without requiring subsequent purification steps, thereby reducing energy consumption while maintaining product purity.
4Manufacturing precision
If multiple extraction steps are used, then extraction completeness is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple extraction and purification steps into a single extraction operation using hydro-alcoholic solvents. This reduces manufacturing costs by eliminating intermediate processing steps, reducing equipment requirements, and lowering operational complexity while maintaining extraction completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
By optimizing the solvent parameters (hydro-alcoholic mixture with 60-80% alcohol), the patent achieves high extraction completeness in a single step, thereby reducing the number of processing operations required and lowering overall manufacturing costs associated with multiple extraction cycles and intermediate handling.
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 approach reduces processing time, energy consumption, and costs while enhancing reproducibility and consistency of the final product, resulting in more efficient and cost-effective production of TCM herbal extracts.
Implementation Method 1
heating the mixture of dried herbs in an aqueous organic solvent, to produce a solution containing the herbal extract mixture
Implementation Method 2
heating the mixture of dried herbs in an aqueous organic solvent, to produce a solution containing the herbal extract mixture
Implementation Method 3
heating the mixture of dried herbs in an aqueous organic solvent
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a process for preparing pharmaceutical compositions and other herbal products derived from herbs of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), including Radix astragali (Milkvetch - Huang Qi), Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuan Xiong), Radix angelicae sinensis (Chinese Angelica - Dang Gui) and Radix polygalae (Thinleaf milkwort- Yuan Zhi). The process includes a single extraction of the TCM herbs by heating in a hydro-alcoholic solvent, wherein the alcohol may be ethanol. Figure 2 provides an overview of one embodiment of the process. The invention also relates to products of the process of the invention, and their use in the treatment of stroke and various neurological disorders.