Advanced Extraction Techniques for Herbal Drugs: A Comprehensive Review

This review explores traditional and modern techniques for extracting bioactive compounds from medicinal plants, emphasizing their role in ensuring the efficacy of herbal drugs. While conventional methods like maceration, decoction, and Soxhlet extraction are still widely used, they are limited by time and efficiency. In contrast, advanced techniques—such as supercritical fluid extraction (SFE), microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), enzyme-assisted extraction (EAE), pressurized liquid extraction (PLE), and pulsed electric field (PEF)—offer improved yields, faster processing, and greater efficiency. Each method has unique advantages and limitations, with operational factors such as temperature, pressure, and solvent type significantly influencing outcomes. Advances in extraction technology continue to enhance the recovery and consistency of bioactive compounds, ultimately contributing to quality assurance in herbal medicine.