Study on the Antiseptic Process of Medicinal Extract in Ming Dynasty from the Perspective of History of Technology

Although the ancients did not know the mechanism of antiseptic, they were aware of antiseptic at an early stage and adopted various antiseptic means. The study of the medicinal extract in Ming dynasty shows that the antiseptic means used in Ming dynasty are similar to modern ones. The antiseptic process of the medicinal extract in Ming dynasty was influenced by the technology of brewing, agriculture, textile, porcelain, mining and other industries at that time, and the process focused on controlling microorganisms, enzymes, grease, and water to reduce the incidence of spoiling. The antiseptic process is applied throughout the whole process, including medicinal preparation, decoction and filtration, concentration and collection, as well as preservation of medicinal extract.