RESUMO
Objective: To search for the best condition of microwave assisted extraction(MAE) for the flavonoids in Radix glycyrrliza and to compare with traditional boiling water extraction(WE). Methods: MAE and BWE were adopted, and its proper experimental conditions were examined and optimized by means of uniform design. The flavonoids in Radix glucyrrliza were determined by spectrophotometry. Results: Appropriate MAE conditions included extraction time of 1min, ethanol concentration of 38%, liquid/solid ratios of 8∶1(ml/g) and the power of microwave oven of 288W, the recovery of flavonoids from Radix glycyrrliza with MAE(24.6mg/g) was higher than BWE (11.4mg/g). Conclusion: Compared with traditional boiling water extraction(BWE), the experiment results demonstrated higher extracting rate and shorter extracting time. It indicated that MAE was more suitable to extraction of the flavonoids.