ABSTRACT
[Objective] Molecular distillation technique was applied for the separation and purification of Atractylodes Lancea oil (ALO) to increase the yield of atractylodin. [Methods] Atractylodes Lancea oil prepared with supercritical extraction was refined by molecular distillation technique. The optimum refining conditions were selected by uniform design containing two factors of temperature and vacuum and five levels. The content of atractylodin from refined Atractylodes Lancea oil was measured and the remainder after isolation was detected by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). [Results] A yield rate of atraotylodin from Atractylodes Lancea oil was 52.17% at the temperature of 105℃ and under the vacuum of 100 Pa. [Conclusion] The application of molecular distillation technique makes it easy to collect the volatile atractylodin from Atractylodes Lancea oil at lower temperature and under higher vacuum; this method ensures the yield rate of atractylodin over 50% and has no problem of environmental pollution.