Optimization of enzyme-assisted extraction of polyphyllins from paris polyphylla var. yunnanensis rhizomes using response surface methodology

Paris polyphylla Smith var. yunnanensis (Franch.) Hand.-Mazz. (P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis) is a perennial herb of the genus Paris. As an important medicinal resource, P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis is facing exhaustion due to the high demand and its specific growth characteristics. To efficiently utilize its resources, the response surface methodology (RSM) was utilized to optimize the pectinase-assisted extraction process of polyphyllins from its rhizome, with the total extraction content of polyphyllin I, II, and VII as the evaluation index. The optimal conditions were as follows: extraction temperature of 52 °C, extraction time of 34 min, and solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:19 g/mL. Under these conditions, the total content of the three polyphyllins was 29.70 mg/g, which was close to the predicted value of 29.90 mg/g and represented an increase of 27.63% over the control group. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that the RSM model exhibited a good fit, and the Box-Behnken design (BBD) could be applied to optimize the extraction process of polyphyllins. This study provides a theoretical basis and a reference approach for the efficient utilization of P. polyphylla var. yunnanensis resources.