Micelle-mediated extraction and preconcentration of ginsenosides from Chinese herbal medicine

The feasibility of employing micelle-mediated extraction as an alternative and effective method for the solubilization, purification and/or preconcent ration of active ingredients from herbal products is demonstrated for the f irst time using the root of American ginseng as a model. When compared to m ethanol and water, an aqueous surfactant solution containing 10% Triton X-1 00 yielded faster kinetics and higher recovery for the extraction of variou s ginsenosides. An experimental design approach (uniform design) was demons trated as a novel and useful method for the optimization of experimental fa ctors involved in the micelle-mediated extraction process. For the preconce ntration of ginsenosides prior to chromatographic determination, a salting- out agent (sodium sulfate) was employed to make the efficient cloud point e xtraction of both hydrophobic and hydrophilic ginsenosides into the surfact ant-rich phase possible, as well as to increase the preconcentration factor by reducing the volume of the surfactant-rich phase. (C) 2000 Elsevier Sci ence BN. All rights reserved.