Patent Description:
Rhubarb is one of traditional Chinese medicinal materials in China, and a general term for various perennial plants from Rheum, Polygonaceae. Rhubarb is available for pharmaceutical use with rhizomes and roots thereof, and has a bitter-cold property and taste and invigorates spleen, stomach, large intestine, liver and pericardium meridian. Rhubarb exhibits an efficacy in cooling blood and stopping bleeding, draining fire and resolving toxin, promoting blood circulation and removing blood stasis, removing dampness through diuresis and removing jaundice, relieving constipation by purgation and so on. There are about <NUM> species of plants from Rheum, which are distributed in high and cold mountain areas in Asian temperate and subtropical zones. In China, there are <NUM> species and two varieties, which are mainly distributed in northwest, southwest and north China regions with less in northeast. In Tibetan medicines, rhubarb is classified into three grades depending on the purgation effect thereof: top, middle and low. The top grade is termed as rhubarb, the middle grade is termed as ya-rhubarb, and the low grade is termed as small-rhubarb. It has been found through research in recent years that stilbenoid compounds are characteristic components in Sect. Rheum plants from Rheum.

Stilbenoid compounds, also referred to as diphenylethylene compounds, are active ingredients extensively present in Rheum, Polygonaceae. It has been found through research that, stilbenoid compounds play a role in anti-aging, preventing and treating senile dementia, improving learning and memory, brain protection and neuroprotection, regulating blood lipids, anti-atherosclerosis, anti-thrombus, antioxidation for scavenging free radicals, protecting the nervous system, anti-tumor, lowering cholesterol, liver protection, vasodilatation and protection, skin protection, anti-depression, heart and myocardial protection, effects on diabetes, promoting hair growth, strengthening bones and so on. Among the above, activities such as anti-thrombus, skin protection, anti-depression, heart and myocardial protection, effects on diabetes, promoting hair growth, strengthening bones and so on are newly reported in recent years. Therefore, it is of very good social and economic benefits to develop and use stilbenoid compounds in rhubarb. <CIT> discloses a process for the ultra-turrax extraction of rhubarb with methanol. <CIT> discloses a process for the extraction of reseveratrol using high-speed homogenization. <CIT> discloses a method for extraction of rhaponticin from Rheum Ihasaense rhizome, comprising crushing, extracting with ethanol water, filtration, combining the extracts, obtaining multi-stage flash rhubarb extract and finally vacuum freezing and drying. <CIT> discloses a method for extraction of stilbenes from Rheum Ihasaense comprising: (A) collecting, cleansing and/or drying, chipping or crushing root and/or rhizome of Rheum Ihasaense; (B) using water, hydrous or anhydrous organic solvent for extracting, where the organic solvent comprises alcohol, ketone, and/or ether containing <NUM>-<NUM> carbon atoms; and (C) concentrating the extraction solution, and drying. As a result, it has been critical for the development of rhubarb to find a rapid, convenient and inexpensive method for extracting stilbenoid compounds from rhubarb.

Flash extraction is a new extraction method developed in recent years. Flash extraction is based on the principle of tissue disruption extraction, where materials are rapidly disrupted into an appropriate particle size in a flash extractor with a suitable solvent, meanwhile, high-speed stirring, super vibration, diafiltration under reduced pressure and other functions are further present in flash extraction so as to achieve the purpose of extraction. Since one extraction generally can be completed in several seconds to several minutes in flash extraction, the extraction speed thereof is more than one hundred-times of a traditional method<NPL>), <NPL>), and <NPL>) each discloses a "flash extractor" or "flash extraction" scheme. However, the flash extraction method employed in the prior art can only improve the extraction speed, while makes little effects on the content of active ingredients.

In order to overcome the above defects existing in the prior art, an objective of the present invention is to provide a flash extraction method for extracting stilbenoid compounds, which can not only improve the extraction speed and shorten the extraction cycle, but also can increase the purity of stilbenoid compounds.

In order to achieve the objective of the present invention, the following technical solutions are employed:.

A method for extracting stilbenoid compounds as defined in claim <NUM>, comprising: using a medicinal material rich in stilbenoid compounds as a raw material, adding a solvent after pulverizing the medicinal material, extracting in a flash extractor, filtering, combining the filtrate and concentrating to dryness,.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the weight-to-volume ratio in g/ml of the medicinal material to the solvent is <NUM>:<NUM>-<NUM>:<NUM>.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the method for extracting stilbenoid compounds according to the present invention, the solvent has a temperature of <NUM>-<NUM>.

In an embodiment of the present invention, in the method for extracting stilbenoid compounds according to the present invention, the extracting is performed one to three times.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the extracting is performed one, two or three times.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in the method for extracting stilbenoid compounds according to the present invention, the extracting is performed for <NUM>-<NUM> minutes each time.

An extract rich in stilbenoid compounds may be prepared according to the above flash extraction method.

The technical solutions of the present invention at least have one of the following advantages:.

The flash extraction method of the present invention is advantageous in simple operation, high extraction speed, short extraction cycle, saved energy consumption needed for heating and cooling, and reduced production costs. Meanwhile, by using the blitzkrieg extraction method of the present invention, stilbenoid compounds are obtained in a significantly higher purity than a traditional method. This facilitates subsequent purification and is suitable for the large scale industrial production of stilbenoid compounds, exhibiting a high application value and development prospect.

Hereinafter, the technical solutions in embodiments of the present invention will be described clearly and completely in conjunction with examples of the present invention.

Materials: The Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material (purchased from Lhasa, Tibet) was treated by removing impurities, and cleaned and pulverized into coarse powder.

Flash extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml). The coarse powders were extracted three times in a flash extractor for three times, and <NUM> each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao extract.

Extraction under ethanol reflux: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for extraction under reflux three times for <NUM> each and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao extract.

Ultrasonic extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for ultrasonic extraction for three times with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao extract.

Materials: The Rheum likiangense Sam. medicinal material (purchased from Diqing, Yunnan) was treated by removing impurities, and cleaned and pulverized into coarse powder.

Flash extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum likiangense Sam. medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml). The coarse powder was extracted for three times in a flash extractor with <NUM> each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum likiangense Sam.

Extraction under ethanol reflux: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum likiangense Sam. medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for extraction under reflux for three times with <NUM> each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum likiangense Sam.

Ultrasonic extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum likiangense Sam. medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for ultrasonic extraction for three times with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum likiangense Sam.

Materials: The Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao medicinal material (purchased from Minhe, Qinghai) was treated by removing impurities, and cleaned and pulverized into coarse powder.

Flash extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml). The coarse powder was extracted for three times in a flash extractor with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao extract.

Extraction under ethanol reflux: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for extraction under reflux for three times with <NUM> each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum hotaoense C. Y Cheng et Kao extract.

Ultrasonic extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for ultrasonic extraction for three times with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum hotaoense C. Cheng et Kao extract.

Materials: The Rheum australe D. Don medicinal material (purchased from Lhasa, Tibet) was treated by removing impurities, and cleaned and pulverized into coarse powder.

Flash extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum australe D. Don medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml). The coarse powder was extracted for three times in a flash extractor with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum australe D. Don extract.

Extraction under ethanol reflux: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum australe D. Don medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for extraction under reflux for three times with <NUM> each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum australe D. Don extract.

Ultrasonic extraction: <NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum australe D. Don medicinal material was taken, and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) for ultrasonic extraction for three times with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness, to obtain about <NUM> of Rheum australe D. Don extract.

Instruments and reagents: Shimadzu UV-<NUM> UV spectrophotometer, Sartorius CP225D analytical balance, <NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>,<NUM>'-tetrahydroxyldiphenylethylene-<NUM>-O-β-D glucoside control (National Institutes for the Control of Food and Pharmaceuticals, No.<NUM>-<NUM>).

As can be seen from the results in Table <NUM>, four Rheum medicinal materials were extracted using different extraction methods under the same solvent condition, and the purities of stilbenoid compounds by flash extraction and extraction under flux are higher. Taking the energy consumption generated during heating, solvent condensing and so on into overall consideration, it can be found that flash extraction shows remarkable advantages in the case of the same extraction rate.

<NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken, ethanol, methanol, acetone, ethyl acetate and water were added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml) respectively. The coarse powder was extracted for three times in a flash extractor with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness. An appropriate amount of extracts were taken and assayed for the purity of stilbenoid compounds according to the method in Example <NUM>, respectively. The results are seen in Table <NUM>.

As can be seen from the results in Table <NUM>, under different solvent extraction conditions, the extraction rates of stilbenoid compounds by methanol, ethanol or acetone are higher, while the extraction rates by water or ethyl acetate are lower.

<NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml), respectively. The coarse powder was extracted for one, two, three, four and five times in a flash extractor with <NUM> minutes each time and filtered, respectively. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness. An appropriate amount of extract was taken and assayed for the purity of stilbenoid compounds according to the method in Example <NUM>, respectively. The results are seen in Table <NUM>.

As can be seen from the results in Table <NUM>, under different times of extraction, the extraction rates of stilbenoid compounds extracted for four times and more are not greatly different from that under extractions for <NUM> to <NUM> times. Moreover, the extraction has been almost completed under <NUM> to <NUM> times of extraction.

<NUM> coarse powder of the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken and ethanol was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml), respectively. The coarse powder was extracted for three times in a flash extractor for <NUM> minute, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes, <NUM> minutes and <NUM> minutes each times, and filtered, respectively. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness. An appropriate amount of extracts were taken and assayed for the purity of stilbenoid compounds according to the method in Example <NUM>, respectively. The results are seen in Table <NUM>.

As can be seen from the results in Table <NUM>, for stilbenoid compounds extracted under different extraction durations, the total amount of stilbenoid compounds extracted is higher for <NUM> minutes and <NUM> minutes, and lower for <NUM> minute.

<NUM> coarse powder from the Rheum lhasaense A. Hsiao medicinal material was taken, and ethanol with a temperature of <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> or <NUM> was added in a <NUM>-fold volume (W/V, in g/ml), respectively. The coarse powder was extracted twice in a flash extractor with <NUM> minutes each time, and filtered. The filtrate was combined and concentrated to dryness. An appropriate amount of extracts were taken and assayed for the purities of stilbenoid compounds according to the method in Example <NUM>, respectively. The results are seen in Table <NUM>.

Claim 1:
A method for extracting stilbenoid compounds, comprising: using a medicinal material rich in stilbenoid compounds as a raw material, adding a solvent after pulverizing the medicinal material, extracting with a flash extractor, filtering, combining the filtrate and concentrating to dryness,
wherein the medicinal material rich in stilbenoid compounds is Rheum lhasaense A. J. Li et P. K. Hsiao, the solvent is methanol, ethanol or acetone, the extracting is performed one to four times and the extracting is performed for <NUM>-<NUM> minutes each time; and
wherein the temperature of the solvent is <NUM> to <NUM>.