RESUMO
Objective: To optimize the acid hydrolysis process of burnet (Sanguisorbae Radix, the roots of Sanguisorba officinalis) total saponins and to improve the yield of the hydrolyzate burnet sapogenin. Methods: Using orthogonal test design, the concentration of hydrochloric acid, solid-liquid ratio, hydrolysis temperature, and hydrolytic time for the hydrolysis process of burnet total saponins were investigated. Results: The primary and secondary factors that influenced the hydrolysis were followed by order of the concentration of hydrochloric acid > hydrolytic time > solid-liquid ratio > hydrolytic temperature, preferably optimum for the solid-liquid ratio of 1:200, hydrochloric acid concentration of 4 mol/L, hydrolytic time of 0.5 h, and hydrolytic temperature of 92 ℃. Conclusion: High yield of burnet sapogenin can be obtained by using the optimized hydrolytic conditions, which are suitable for industrial production.