As an important unit in the manufacturing process of traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)

extraction directly affects the subsequent process and the quality of medicines.The development and improvement of extraction techniques play an important role in developing high-quality TCM products and promoting the benign development of TCM industry.In the extraction process of TCM

the medicinal ingredients of herbs can be easily dissolved and efficiently extracted by adding extraction auxiliary agents

such as acids

alkalis

surfactants and enzymes

which can change the pH of solvent

or change the surface tension between the medicinal herbs and solvents

or destroy the structure of the plant cell wall.Extraction auxiliary agents has been widely applied in the extraction of flavonoids

alkaloids

polysaccharides

organic acids

saponins

anthraquinones

triterpene acids

proteins and other compounds in Chinese herbal medicines

it can significantly improve the extraction efficiency

but also has some defects.By consulting the literatures

this paper expounds the application

characteristics

advantages

disadvantages and scope of application of extraction auxiliary agents

analyzes the existing problems and puts forward some countermeasures to provide new ideas for the application of extraction auxiliary agents in the extraction process of TCM.