[Multiscale regulation strategies for improving thermal stability of volatile oil components from Acorus tatarinowii]

Addressing the common challenge that the volatility and degradation of volatile oil components restrict pharmaceutical development, this study focuses on a cross-scale regulation strategy of "particle modification-emulsion stabilization" to enhance the stability of volatile oil components. To address the imbalance of surface hydrophilicity and hydrophobicity of the water-insoluble precipitate(WIP) from Arisaema cum Bile-Bombyx Batryticatus extract, WIP-cellulose composite functional particles were successfully prepared via hydroxypropylmethylcellulose E50-mediated solvent volatilization, increasing the contact angle to 78°. Based on this, an O/W Pickering emulsion system containing volatile oil components from Acorus tatarinowii was constructed. The emulsion process was optimized through multidimensional stability indicators, including particle size, zeta potential, emulsion stability index(ESI), and post-centrifugation cream layer height. Optimal system stability was achieved with 8 mg·mL~(-1) composite particles, a 55% oil phase ratio, and high-speed shearing(14 000 r·min~(-1), 2 min). Confocal laser scanning microscopy confirmed that the WIP-cellulose composite particles formed dense adsorption layers at the oil-water interface. Thermal stability studies at 60 ℃ demonstrated that the Pickering emulsion system provided exceptional component protection via mesoscale structural barriers. The retention rates of key components(α-asarone, β-asarone, γ-asarone, cis-methyl isoeugenol, and β-calacorene) increased compared to free volatile oil components, while maintaining stable quantitative relationships. This study provides a novel solution for enhancing the stability of volatile oil components in solid TCM preparations through the organic integration of particle interface modification, mesostructure stabilization, and macroscopic property regulation.