Effect of superfine pulverization on physicochemical and medicinal properties of Qili Powder

Qili Powder, a preparation from Traditional Chinese Medicine, commonly used to treat in-juries from falling or stumbling, pain caused by bruising, and traumatic hemorrhage. The aim of the present work was to investigate the application of the superfine pulverization on Qili Powder properties. The physicochemical and medicinal properties of fine Qili Powder with D90 particle size of 164.5μm, and superfine Qili Powder with D90 particle size of 32.2μm were investigated. The results showed that with decreasing particle size, the specific surface area and pore volume increased, the fluidity decreased, and the percentage of moisture absorption and the balanced moisture content decreased. Analysis HPLC, XRD and FTIR results indicated that superfine pulverization didn’t influence dracorhodin content, nor the molecular structure and crystal form of Qili Powder. The percentage of dissolution of dracorhodin was significantly improved after superfine pulverization. Pharmacokinetics results confirmed that superfine pulverization increases the absorption rate in rats and dracorhodin content of Qili Powder.