Optimization of supercritical CO2 fluid extraction process, component analysis, and antioxidant spectral activity correlation of Huoluo Xiaoling Dan

This study elucidated the optimization conditions, GC-MS analysis conditions, total antioxidant activity, and components closely related to antioxidant activity for supercritical extraction of active ingredients in Huoluo Xiaoling Dan (HLXLD). The yield, octyl acetate content, and total antioxidant activity of HLXLD under different conditions were obtained through orthogonal experiments, and the optimal supercritical extraction conditions were determined to be 45°C, 25 MPa, and 4 h. The supercritical extract was subjected to GC-MS analysis and matched with the WILEY and NIST databases, resulting in the qualitative identification of 37 chemical components with a matching degree above 60. The similarity evaluation system of traditional Chinese medicine fingerprint was used to evaluate all orthogonal experimental samples, with a similarity ranging from 0.522 to 0.989. Thirteen common characteristic peaks were selected, and the quantification of these peaks was performed using peak area normalization method. The combination of the content of common characteristic peaks in different samples and their total antioxidant activity was analyzed using multivariate statistical methods such as principal component analysis and multiple regression equation. It was found that five components, F3, F2, F5, F7 and F12, among the common characteristic peaks were closely related to antioxidant activity.