International Journal of Molecular Medical Science, 2025, Vol.15, No.2, 69-79 http://medscipublisher.com/index.php/ijmms 71 3 Main Active Ingredients and Extraction Methods 3.1 Polysaccharides and their extraction process Polysaccharides, as an important active component of food and medicinal substances, have multiple functions such as antioxidation and enhancing immunity (Xu et al., 2022). Although the traditional hot water extraction method is simple to operate, high temperature is prone to cause the decomposition of heat-sensitive components. Modern ultrasonic-assisted extraction technology utilizes cavitation effect to enhance substance penetration. For example, when applied to the extraction of Ganoderma lucidum polysaccharides, the yield can be increased by 30% at 50 ℃ while maintaining higher antioxidant activity (Zheng et al., 2020). The optimization experiments on mugwort leaf polysaccharides show that by controlling the liquid-material ratio and extraction time, the yield of polysaccharides can reach 1.8 times that of the traditional methods (Chen et al., 2023). 3.2 Flavonoid extraction process Flavonoids are renowned for their antioxidant properties, and their extraction process has been continuously improved. Although the traditional organic solvent method is low in cost, there is a potential risk of solvent residue. Microwave-assisted technology accelerates molecular movement through electromagnetic waves, enabling the flavonoids in citrus peels to be extracted within 15 minutes with a purity of 92% (Han et al., 2014). Noni fruit flavonoids were extracted by ethanol gradient extraction method. The best extraction effect was achieved under pH4.5 conditions, and the yield was 25% higher than that of the conventional method (Gong et al., 2022). 3.3 Alkaloid extraction technology Alkaloids, as nitrogen-containing active substances, their extraction process directly affects the efficacy of the medicine. The traditional ethanol reflux method requires more than 8 hours, while the supercritical CO₂ extraction can complete the extraction of alkaloids fromRubia cordifolia in 2 hours under a pressure of 40 MPa, and the purity is increased to 95% (Ma et al., 2019). The new solid-phase extraction technology can also achieve the directional separation of specific alkaloids, laying the foundation for precise drug use. 3.4 Essential oil extraction methods Essential oil extraction technology is related to the retention rate of active ingredients. The traditional steam distillation method would cause the loss of 30% of volatile components. The improved Soxhlet extractor increased the yield of mugwort essential oil from 0.8% to 2.3% through cyclic extraction (Chen et al., 2023). Electrospinning technology uses sodium alginate to coat peppermint essential oil, and the formed nanofiber film extends the stability of the essential oil to 12 months (Souza et al., 2021). This technology has been applied in the development of wound dressings. 4 Pharmacological Mechanism of the Active Ingredient 4.1 Antioxidant mechanism Antioxidants protect cells from damage by eliminating free radicals and reducing oxidative stress. Polysaccharides from food and medicine homologous materials can capture free radicals and enhance the antioxidant defense in the body, thereby preventing oxidative damage (Xu et al., 2022). In addition, coix seed contains components such as oils, polysaccharides and phenols, showing good antioxidant capacity and helping to combat oxidative stress related to cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases (Zeng et al., 2022). 4.2 Anti-inflammatory mechanism Inflammation is the body's response to harmful stimuli, but long-term inflammation can lead to diseases. A variety of MFH active substances can inhibit key inflammatory pathways, such as cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and microprostaglandin E2 synthase (mPGES-1) pathways, thereby reducing inflammation (Lu et al., 2021; Tian et al., 2023). Bee products (such as propolis and royal jelly) also exhibit anti-inflammatory effects by regulating the production of cytokines such as TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6 (El-Seedi et al., 2022). In addition, the active ingredients in Pan Jisheng’s formula can regulate immune-related signals and the TNF pathway, exerting anti-inflammatory effects (Wu et al., 2022).
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