Objective: To optimize microwave vacuum drying process of Jiangzhiling tablets. Method: Considering overall desirability of contents of emodin

ursolic acid and oleanolic acid as dependent variable

Box-Behnken design-response surface method was used to optimize microwave vacuum drying process of Jiangzhiling tablets with relative density of extract

microwave power and drying time as independent variables.HPLC was adopted to determine contents of emodin

ursolic acid and oleanolic acid with mobile phases of methanol-0.1% phosphoric acid(80:20) and acetonitrile-methanol-0.5% ammonium acetate(67:12:21)

detection wavelengths at 254 and 210 nm. Result: Optimum microwave vacuum drying process was as follows:concentrated extract to a relative density of 1.27 g·mL-1

microwave power of 511 W

drying time of 27 min;extracting amounts of emodin

ursolic acid and oleanolic acid were 0.321

0.548

0.118 mg·g-1

which were close to predictive values of 0.324

0.545

0.121 mg·g-1

respectively. Conclusion: This optimized drying process was stable and reliable

which had no significant difference in contents of index components by hot air drying process

it was suitable for application in drying process of materials of traditional Chinese medicine.