Extraction of Salvia miltiorrhiza Using Subcritical Water

Abstract

Salvia miltiorrhiza, also known as Danshen, is an herb commonly used in Chinese medicine to treat cardiovascular and other diseases. As it has recently gained more recognition, this herb is currently being investigated for its anticancer properties. In traditional Chinese medicine, the patients extracted the prescribed herbs using boiling water, then consumed the extracts as medication. However, the extraction temperature of approximately 100 'C used in this traditional method may not be the most effective condition to remove the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) from the herb. Previous studies show that higher temperatures can more efficiently extract anticancer agents, such as tanshinones, from Salvia miltiorrhiza. The goal of this study is to determine the most efficient subcritical water extraction temperature that extracts the APIs from the herb. The extraction process was performed at four different temperatures: 75 'C, 100 'C, 125 'C, and 150 'C. After the high-temperature water extraction, the APIs in the water extracts were analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).