ABSTRACT
With the expansion of the application field of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil, the research on novel extraction technology and method is increasing. Vacuum hydrodistillation extraction, a new extraction process, reduces the boiling point of the solvent by adjusting the vacuum degree. Therefore, it can keep the solvent boiling at low temperature, so that the volatile oil components are not easily destroyed. This paper has reviewed the principle, advantages and disadvantages, application status of vacuum technology in the field of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil and the application of vacuum combined technologies including instant controlled pressure drop, ultrasonic combined vacuum extraction, microwave combined vacuum extraction and supercritical CO2 combined vacuum extraction. Based on the practical application of these new technologies and processes in the field of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil, the existing problems were analyzed and discussed, which will provides new ideas for the extraction process and equipment upgrade of traditional Chinese medicine volatile oil.