The microwave-assisted extraction(MAE)technology of tyrosinase inhibitor from batryticated silkworms was studied with the yield and the relative inhibitory activity against tyrosinase(RIAAT) of the extract used as evaluating indexes in the experiment.The effects of extraction variables,especially solvent concentrations,microwave power,the duration of microwave irradiation,materials-solvent mass ratio and material particle size on extraction efficiency were investigated.It was concluded that the optimal condition was two doses of microwave radiation(450 W) for 7 min with a mass ratio of 70 % ethanol to material by 8∶1.The extract of batryticated silkworms with 15.8 % yield and 66.7 % RIAAT was obtained after the extracted liquor was decoloured with active char,concentrated and then dried under vacuum.Compared with direct-heating extraction(DHE),MAE can shorten extracting duration,improve the yield and RIAAT of the extract.
