The aim of the present study was to optimize the supercritical CO_2 extraction conditions of icariin from Herba Epimedii by response surface method(RSM) and central composite design(CCD).A 3-factor,5-level CCD was used for the optimization.Independent variables were extraction temperature,extraction pressure and entrainer flow rate.Dependent variable was yield ratio of icariin from Herba Epimedii.A two-order polynomial equation was fitted to the data.The results showed that the optimum extraction conditions were as follows:extraction temperature 46.5℃,extraction pressure 30.6 MPa,entrainer flow rate 3.3 mL/min.CCD/ RSM is convenient and highly predictive for optimizing the extraction process of icariin from Herba Epimedii.
