[Research progress on stabilization mechanism of TCM volatile oil]

TCM volatile oil exhibits excellent biological activities and wide application scenarios. However, its volatility and susceptibility to oxidation and deterioration severely restrict the quality of its preparations and clinical efficacy. Therefore, stabilizing TCM volatile oil is extremely necessary. Current research mainly focuses on the development of stabilization techniques and carrier materials, aiming to enhance its stability and endow it with sustained-release and controlled-release properties. In recent years, researchers have increasingly paid attention to the intrinsic mechanisms and potential interactions during the stabilization process, which is of great significance for the development of new stabilization technologies for volatile oil and the research on new dosage forms containing volatile oil. This article systematically reviews the mechanisms of action during the stabilization of TCM volatile oil and summarizes the key methods for characterizing interactions, with the aim of providing references for the development of new stabilization technologies for TCM volatile oil and the theoretical research on its stabilization.