Abstract: Cellulase pretreatment before microwave-assisted extraction of flavonoids from Actinidia arguta stem was optimized by response surface methodology. One-factor-at-a-time experiments were performed to select appropriate levels of enzyme dose, hydrolysis time, temperature and pH. Further, a mathematical model was built and subjected to variance analysis. The optimal cellulase hydrolysis conditions were determined as follows: the optimal enzyme dose was 438 U/g for 64 min of hydrolysis at 49 ℃ and pH 4.7. Under these conditions, the extraction rate of flavonoids was up to 2.89%.

Key words: Actinidia arguta stem, flavonids, cellulose, microwave, response surface methodology