Study of the mechanism of microwave‐assisted extraction of <i>Mahonia bealei</i> (Fort.) leaves and <i>Chrysanthemum morifolium</i> (Ramat.) petals

Abstract

Abstract A study of microwave‐assisted extraction (MAE) for berberine in Mahonia bealei (Fort.) was carried out with batch equipment, in order to investigate the mechanism of the extraction related to structural changes in the glands. The extracts were analysed by ultraviolet‐visible spectrophotometry at 347 nm. The parameters investigated were solvent types, the intensity of microwave energy and the process ratio (g/ml) of materials to solvent volume. The microwave‐assisted extraction of different moisture content of materials was developed and optimized by means of three‐factor and three‐level orthogonal designs. Electron and optical micrographs of M. bealei (Fort.) leaves and Chrysanthemum morifolium (Ramat.) petals showed that the mechanism of the extractions was related to structural changes in the plant cells. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.