Processing Technology Of A Noval Infusion From Eucommia Ulmoides Leaves

Eucommia ulmiodes Oliv. is a plant species with mono genus and family. The bark has been a traditional Chinese medicine for thousands of years. Modern scientific research has confirmed that the functional constituents in the leaf are similar to the bark. Based on this finding, the leaf has been listed in China Pharmacopoeia with therapeutic effects similar to the bark. The leaf contains a variety of medicinal ingredients, such as chlorogenic acid, flavonoids, aucubin, vitamin, amino acids, and minerals. The medical functions of the leaf include regulating blood pressure, lipids and glucose, anti-oxidation, anti-aging, anti-tumor, enhancing immunity, beautifying skin and anti-obesity.In order to make health-care products from the leaves of E. ulmoides, an experiment was conducted on the optimization of the extraction parameters of active ingredients the granulation process of the extracts which are rich in functional constituents. The results are as follows.1. Extraction of active ingredients of leaves of Eucommia ulmoidesResponse surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the extraction parameters of chlorogenic acid and flavonolds from the leaves of E. ulmoides. Based on one-factor experiment, the effects of four independent variables, namely the concentration of ethanol (%) extraction temperature (°C), time (h) and the ratio of material to solvent on the extraction yields of chlorogenic acid and flavonoids were investigated, and then the response surface analysis was used to optimize conditions. The optimal extraction parameters were: ethanol concentration: 55%, extraction temperature: 63°C, time of extraction: 2.2h and material to solvent 1:13 according to the response surface analysis. Under these conditions, the extraction yields of chlorogenic acid and flavonoids were 0.81%, 0.51% respectively.2. Development of Eucommia granulesFirstly, optimal additives were screened from different flavoring agents, excipients, and wetting agents. Then preferable method of granulation was selected from three conventional methods, namely, fast stirring granulation, wet granulation, rapid mixing granulation, and fluidized spraying granulation. Failure rate of particle size was investigated and then the response surface analysis was used to optimize conditions. The optimal extraction parameters were: 0.78% stevia,β-cyclodextrin to powder: 6, 65% ethanol concentration, ratio of ethanol (L) to the powder volume (kg) 1:6, drying temperature of 70°C, in these conditions, Eucommia granules failure rate of particles size was as low as 6.12%.Based on the results mentioned above, a completed flow of making Eucommia granules were proposed as Eucommia leaf after de-dusting, cleaning, and drying 10 min at 105°C, grinding, added 55% ethanol, and the ratio of ethanol (L) to Eucommia leaf (kg) 13:1, and extracted at 63°C about 2.2h, next, concentrated and dried at 60°C. After grinding, the Eucommia leaf extract powder added 0.78% stevioside, theβ-cyclodextrin which was 6 times of the weight of other powder, then continued to add 65% ethanol, and concentration of ratio of ethanol (L) to the powder volume (kg) l:6, after mixing, granulated into the machine the rapid mixing granulation, and then dried under 70°C, 20 minutes.