Abstract: A mathematical model of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) kinetics based on Fick's second diffusion law was established for Chinese traditional medicine. The model proposed has been verified via using experimental data from MAE of Lycoris radiata and Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati at different levels of temperature, extraction time and granularity. The simulated results show that the values calculated by the model were consistent with the experimental data. The diffusion coefficients of the effective constituents in Lycoris radiata and Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati were calculated according to the kinetic modeling method and compared reasonably with those obtained with SRE method, and intensifying factor was introduced as a parameter to estimate the microwave effects on the extraction process of the constituents with MAE and the interaction difference between the different matrices of Chinese traditional medicine was revealed successfully.

Key words: Microwave-assisted extraction, Kinetics model, Lycoris radiata, Rhizma Polygoni Cuspidati