Deep eutectic solvents for green extraction and separation of bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicines

DESs demonstrate superior performance in preserving heat-sensitive compounds, improving solubility, and enabling selective extraction as well as isolation while aligning with green chemistry principles. However, challenges such as high viscosity, scalability, and toxicological assessments remain. Despite these limitations, DESs show significant eco-friendly potential, and future opportunities in policy support and AI-driven design could further advance their role in modernizing TCM for safer, more efficient, and sustainable therapeutic development.