Abstract:

The cellulase-assisted extraction of neferine from lotus seed core powder was optimized using single-factor
experiments and response surface methodology based on Box-Behnken design. The independent variables were cellulase
dosage, hydrolysis pH, temperature and time. Neferine yield was used as the response. The extraction conditions were optimized
as follows: cellulase dosage, 3.1% (m/m); pH, 4.8; hydrolysis time, 1.7 h min; and hydrolysis temperature, 50 ℃. Under the
optimized conditions, the yield of neferine was (7.02 ± 0.22) mg/g, which was 71.9% higher than that ((4.03 ± 0.17) mg/g)
obtained with the traditional ethanol extraction method. The cellulase-assisted extraction process was accomplished under
simple and mild conditions, which could effectively improve the utilization of lotus seed core powder.

Key words: lotus seed core powder, neferine, cellulas, response surface methodology