[Select alternative technology to sulfur fumigation for Astragali Radix based on multi-index method]

Sulfur fumigation method is often used in the habitat processing of Astragali Radix in order to make it mothproof, mildewproof and easy to dry; however, this method has great influence on the inherent quality of Astragali Radix. Therefore, it is urgent to develop the alternative technology to sulfur fumigation. In the present paper, appearance characteristics, content of active ingredients, containing water, extracting content and microbial content in Astragali Radix were taken as the indexes to compare the quality of Astragali Radix processed with 9 kinds of processing methods (traditional processing method, sulfur fumigation and 7 kinds of alternative processing technologies). Combined hot air-microwave technology was finally determined as an alternative technology to sulfur fumigation.