Microwave-assisted extraction of total saponins from Acanthopanax senticosus Harms

Objective:To develop a high performance microwave-assisted extraction (MAE)method of saponins compounds from Acanthopanax senticosus Harms.Methods:The total saponins in Acanthopanax senticosus Harms have been extracted by means of MAE technique.The influence of some operation conditions,such as ethanol con- tent,microwave irradiation time,processing pressure and solvent uptake rate,on the extraction yield have been stud- ied by using orthogonal test and optimization based on multivariate statistics.Results:The highest extraction yield could be obtained when extraction solvent was 70% ethanol,processing pressure was 700 kPa,microwave irradiation time was 10 minutes and the ratio of sample weight to solvent volume was 1:30.In the optimal conditions of MAE, the extraction yield of total saponins was higher 34% than that with Soxhlet extraction.Conclusion:MAE is more advantageous in respect of extraction time and extraction yield.