Research progress on superfine grinding technique in field of Chinese materia medica / 中草药

With the continuous development of the modernization of Chinese materia medica (CMM), the superfine grinding technology has been continuously applied to the basic and applied research of raw materials and preparations, which has become an important way to improve and enhance the quality of traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces and traditional preparations. This paper introduces the concept, the equipment, working principle and characteristics of superfine grinding, and expounds the general situation of application of superfine grinding technology in Chinese materia medica (CMM). The prospective application of superfine grinding technology in the field of CMM was analyzed and prospected. The problems that should be paid attention to in the future research and application of superfine grinding of CMM were put forward.

Improving hygroscopicity of fermented Cordyceps powder based on particle design technology of traditional Chinese medicine / 中国中药杂志

Commonly used dosage forms of fermented Cordyceps powder products are capsules and tablets. The hygroscopicity of the powder,as one of the important parameters in the tableting process,has important effects on the tabletting process of the tablets. How to improve the hygroscopicity of powder is of great significance for the development of new composite particles. Therefore,particle design technology was used in this study to prepare composite particle powder,and its hygroscopicity was compared with fermented Cordyceps powder and physically mixed powder. By preparing three different types of powders,the equilibrium moisture absorption,particle size,scanning electron micrograph,angle of repose,contact angle and compression degree were compared to observe the effect of traditional Chinese medicine particle design technology on improving the hygroscopicity of the fermented Cordyceps powder. The results showed that the equilibrium moisture absorption was 21. 2%,19. 6%,14. 5% respectively for the fermented Cordyceps powder,physically mixed powder and composite particle powder; the median diameter was(49. 751± 0. 280),(59. 183± 0. 170),(12. 842±0. 080) μm,respectively; the mode diameter was(185. 479±1. 372),(173. 964± 1. 104),(61. 671± 0. 979) μm,respectively. In the scanning electron micrograph of the composite particle powder,it can be clearly seen that the fermented Cordyceps powder had hydrophobic gas phase nano-silica with a fixed shape and uniform size. The angle of repose was(50. 63 ± 0. 75) °,(49. 25 ± 0. 43) °,(48. 33±0. 84) ° respectively; the contact angle was(7. 4±0. 2) °,(8. 2±0. 3) °,(15. 0±2. 6) ° respectively; and the compression degree was(38. 2±1. 3) %,(35. 8±0. 2) %,(32. 5±2. 6) % respectively. This study showed that after treatment by the vibrating ultrafine pulverizer,the fermented Cordyceps powder particles had obvious and uniform small particle hydrophobic gas phase nano-silica adhered to form a partially wrapped coating structure,which reduced the contact surface of fermented Cordyceps powder with the outside world,thereby reducing the hygroscopicity of the composite particle powder. It further demonstrated that the hygroscopicity of fermented Cordyceps powder can be improved by particle design.

Effects of Superfine Grinding Technology on Powder Properties and Dissolution of Oyster Shell / 中国药房

OBJECTIVE： To study the effects of superfine grinding on the powder properties and dissolution of oyster shell， and to provide experimental basis for its comprehensive exploitation. METHODS： Oyster shells were firstly prepared into ordinary powder by grinder. Then the ordinary powder was prepared into micro-powder Ⅰ （crushing 5 min） and Ⅱ （crushing 10 min） by ultrafine pulverizer. The differences of micromeritic properties were investigated before and after superfine grinding from the aspects of particle size distribution， specific surface area and porosity， angle of repose， bulk density， hygroscopicity， etc. Scanning electron microscope （SEM）， Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy （FTIR） and X-ray powder diffraction （XRD） techniques were used to analyze the morphological characteristics and chemical structure of oyster shell before and after superfine grinding. The dissolution were investigated. RESULTS： Compared with ordinary powder， micropowder Ⅰ and micropowder Ⅱ’s were small in particle size and uniformly distributed， but the particles were easy to adhere and aggregate； the specific surface area， porosity and the angle of repose increased， while bulk density decreased； the hygroscopicity increased. FTIR and XRD showed no significant change in chemical structure of oyster shell after superfine grinding. The dissolution rate of micropowder Ⅱ and micropowder Ⅰ was 18.5％ and 10.3％ at 10 min， and the dissolution of ordinary powder was only 6.4％ at 60 min. CONCLUSIONS： Compared with ordinary powder， oyster shell show obvious differences in powder properties after superfine grinding； the dissolution rate of the powders increases， and there is no significant change in chemical structure.

Comparison of Micromeritics Properties and External Dissolution Rates ofSanhuang Powder with Different Particle Sizes / 中国中医药信息杂志

Objective To compare the micromeritics properties and external dissolution rates of Sanhuang Powder in different particle sizes;To provide references for its direct use and application as raw materials for TCM preparation.Methods Particle size, bulk density, tap density, angle of repose, and hygroscopicity ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were investigated and evaluated. External dissolution rates ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were detected by ultraviolet spectrophotometry.Results The flowability of bothSanhuang micro-powder and common powder were not very well. With the sizes decreasing, the hygroscopicity of micro-powder became stronger. The external dissolution ofSanhuang micro-powder was more sufficient and much more quickly than common powder.Conclusion Properties ofSanhuang micro-powder and common powder are obviously different.Sanhuang micro-powder has stronger hygroscopicity and worse flowability compared with common powder. However, external dissolution ofSanhuang micro-powder is more sufficient and much more quickly than common powder. WhenSanhuang micro-powder is used directly and used as raw materials for TCM preparation, much more discretion should be considered.

Correlation of comminution degree and astragalus polysaccharides yield in Mt. Hengshan Astragalus membranaceus / 中草药

Objective: To study the correlation between the comminution degree and astragalus polysaccharides yield in Mt. Hengshan Astragalus membranaceus (MHAM). Methods: MHAM was processed with the ultrafine treatment by mini plant mill, and grouped according to the different sizes. The yields of astragalus polysaccharides in each group were obtained under the different temperatures and ratios of material to liquid by water and CaO extraction methods. Results: When the powder size ≥ 600-mesh, the yield of astragalus polysaccharides with CaO extraction is higher than that with water extraction; When the powder size ≤ 800-mesh, the yields are almost the same by the two extraction methods. With the methods of both water and CaO extraction, the highest yields of astragalus polysaccharides (8.36% and 8.49%) were obtained at the following conditions: 800-mesh crushing granularity, 80°C extraction temperature, and 1:8 solid-liquid ratio. Conclusion: The yield of astragalus polysaccharides and the comminution degree of MHAM are related.

Influence of superfine grinding on physicochemical properties of Drynariae Rhizoma / 中草药

Objective: Comparing the powder characteristics and dissolution rate between common powder and micropowder of Drynariae Rhizoma to provide experimental evidence for the micropowder application and the control of paticle size. Methods: Particle size and distribution, hygroscopicity, and powder morphology of the powder characteristics and dissolution behavior were used to evaluate the impact of particle size on powder characteristics and dissolution of Drynariae Rhizoma powders. Results: There were significant differences between common powder and micropowder in powder characteristics and dissolution rate. In addition to the micropowder III, the dissolution rates and the concentrations of naringin in micropowders were higher than those in the common powder of Drynariae Rhizoma. Conclusion: An appropriate degree of micronization is helpful for the dissolution of the active components in Drynariae Rhizoma and the application of micronization technology to Drynariae Rhizoma is feasible. The particle diameter (D90) of the micropowders should be controlled in 61.4-23.5 μm.