Research progress in preparation and evaluation of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions
YAN Bo
HOU Xiao-ying
ZHANG Nan
HAN Xue-mei
ZHAO Qing
WU Guo-tai
Abstract：The paper reviewed the formulation characteristics,preparation methods,quality control,efficacy evaluation,and applications of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions.The advantages in storage,sustained and controlled release,dispersion,bioavailability,side effects,and absorption of the three most important types of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions,i.e.,microemulsion,sub-microemulsion,and nanoemulsion,were introduced.In the preparation of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions,choosing the appropriate extraction method is crucial to controlling the stability of volatile oil.Steam distillation,supercritical fluid extraction,organic solvent extraction,and pressing methods have their own characteristics and need to be selected according to the extraction object.In order to ensure the stability and safety of volatile oil emulsions,suitable emulsifiers and other excipients need to be selected,and the formula needs to be optimized.Effective evaluation is also needed to improve the bioavailability of the drug,protect volatile oil from oxidation,prevent external interference,increase drug solubility,and enhance drug targeting through directed delivery.The paper also introduced the clinical and cosmetic applications of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions,to provide references for the development of Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsions.
Keywords：Chinese herbal volatile oil emulsionemulsion typepreparation methodquality standardquality control method
Publication Date：2025-09-30
Online Publishing Date：2026-08-14(First online date of this platform, not the publication date of the document)
Pages：8( 1952-1959 )