Objective: To establish a process for separation and extraction coumarins from Cnidii Fructus by cloud-point preconcentration using self-microemulsion as solvent. Method: With dissolved amount of osthole as index

single factor tests were adopted to screen oil phase

emulsifier and co-emulsifier

microemulsion formulation was optimized by pseudo-ternary phase diagrams;Taking extraction amount of osthole and total coumarins as index

solid-liquid ratio

ultrasonic power

extraction temperature and time was investigated by U5(54) uniform test.To separate coumarins from self-microemulsion extract by cloud-point preconcentration. Result: Proportion of optimized prescription was[octyl polyethylene glycol phenyl ether-butyl alcohol(5:1)]-ethyl oleate-water(2.5: 0.5: 7);Optimum technology parameters were as follows:extraction temperature of 50℃

extraction time 60 min

solid-liquid ratio of 20: 1

ultrasonic power 280 W.Under these conditions

yield of osthole was 83.2%

total coumarins was 91.19%.After self-microemulsion extract treated by cloud-point preconcentration method

recovery of osthole and total coumarins in oil reservoir reached 90.33% and 78.91%

respectively. Conclusion: This optimized technology was simple and feasible

it was suitable for extraction and separation of active ingredients from Cnidii Fructus.