Highly efficient extraction of alkaloids via bio-derived ionic liquids for complex wound repair†

Coptis chinensis alkaloids have shown remarkable medical value in recent decades, however, their extraction efficiency is limited by the high cost and poor safety of traditional routes. In this study, a series of bio-based ionic liquids (ILs) were successfully prepared through an ion-exchange reaction using precursors derived from organic acids and alkaloids, which significantly enhanced the extraction of alkaloids from Coptis chinensis. By utilizing techniques of electron microscopy and analog computation, the novel extraction method is shown to be twice as effective as the traditional water extraction method. Furthermore, cellular level experiments verify the antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, and animal experiments indicate that the IL-derived extraction route can boost the healing efficiency of complex wounds by three times. This study not only broadens the application of bio-based ionic liquids in plant extraction, but also delivers a low-cost, simple-to-use biologic agent for skin repair, demonstrating its great potential for application.