Abstract
The objective of this study was to develop and optimize a pulsed electric field (PEF) extraction method. Various experimental conditions, including electric field intensity and frequency, were evaluated against extraction methods. The content of six major ginsenosides (Rg~1~, Re, Rb~1~, Rc, Rb~2~, and Rd) were quantified by HPLC. The results indicated that the highest yield of the ginsenoside is 12.69 mg/g by PEF using the conditions of 20 kV/cm electric field intensity, 6000 Hz frequency, 70% ethanol–water solution, and 150 L/h velocity. The yield of the ginsenoside of PEF extraction method is higher than the other five methods, such as microwave‐assisted extraction, heat reflux extraction, ultrasonic‐assisted extraction, accelerated solvent extraction, and ultrahigh pressure extraction, The whole extraction process of PEF takes less than 1 s, which is much less than the heat reflux extraction method for 6 h and even newly used technique ultrahigh pressure extraction method of 2 min. The high efficiency, shorter extraction times, and lower energy cost of PEF extraction method can be applied in the industrial production of saponins from Panax ginseng. The PEF extraction method is a promising and constructive method to extract ginsenosides.