Abstract: Using tobacco leaves as materials, the homogenate extraction technology of coenzyme Q₁₀ (CoQ₁₀) in tobacco was optimized by orthogonal experiments. The effect of homogenate time, ethanol volume percent, ratio of liquid to material and number of extraction cycles on the extraction yield of CoQ₁₀ was investigated. The optimized homogenate extraction technology was determined as follows: 85% ethanol as extraction solvent, homogenate time 6 min，ratio of liquid to material 9∶1(mL· g^-1), 2 extraction cycles. A comparison between homogenate and Soxhlet extractions was conducted. The extraction yield of CoQ₁₀ was 12.82 μg·g^-1 by homogenate extraction, which was almost equivalent to Soxhlet extraction. Homogenate extraction is faster and needs less solvent, thereby homogenate extraction has an advantage over Soxhlet extraction.

Key words: tobacco, CoQ₁₀, homogenate extraction, orthogonal experiment