The project, “Application of Pressurized Liquid Extraction in Quality Control of Chinese Medicine,” proposed by the Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences (ICMS) of the University of Macau (UM), received Third Prize of the Science and Technology Award of Chinese Pharmaceutical Association (CPA) 2008. The principal researchers of this project were Associate Professor Shaoping Li, Professor Yitao Wang, as well as their PhD students Fengqing Yang, Peng Li, Jianbo Wan and Xiaojia Chen.
The research team has started to study the feasibility and application of pressurized liquid extraction (PLE) for quality control of Traditional Chinese Medicine since 2003. They have found that PLE has multiple advantages such as high extraction efficiency, short extraction time, good repeatability, low solvent consumption and automation, etc. They also found that PLE could also decrease or avoid some unstable compounds like ligustilide in Angelica sinensis, and degradation under high temperature because of its inert gas system, which are helpful to improve the analysis accuracy. In regard to this project, 35 papers have been published, among which, 29 papers are SCI papers and were cited 88 times by other authors. The number of papers on PLE published by the principal person of the team has occupied a leading position in the field of SCI research papers for about 20 years.
The Science and Technology Award of CPA is awarded annually and approved by the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Award is divided into two categories: Basic Research Award for rewarding people who have found new viewpoints or theories in the fields relating to basic pharmacy and applied basic research, and Applied Research Award for rewarding people who have discovered new methods, technologies, products or materials during their research on Traditional Chinese Medicine. In 2008, the Science and Technology Award of CPA received a total of 36 proposed projects. After examination and discussions among experts from CPA, 16 outstanding projects were finally voted for the award, including two First Prizes, four Second Prizes and 10 Third Prizes.
The Science and Technology Award of CPA received demonstrates that ICMS’ research in this field has reached an advanced level in China and has been well acknowledged by the industry. The project awarded was sponsored by the Research Committee of the University and the Macao Science and Technology Development Fund. The result of this project improved the standardization and normalization for the sample preparations during the quality evaluation and control of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
Caption : UM Wins National Pharmaceutical Science and Technology Award
