Abstract: Using central composite design-response surface methodology, the comprehensive score values of volatile components such as menthol and menthone, non-volatile components such as neochlorogenic acid, protocatechualdehyde, rutin, naringin, hesperidin, rosmarinic acid, quercetin, and the average particle size of D₉₀, were used as indicators to optimize the three influencing factors of water content, dosage, and grinding time for ultra-fine crushing of Mentha haplocalyx Briq. Results showed that the optimal ultrafine grinding process for M. haplocalyx Briq. was to control the water content of the slices at 6.0%, with a grinding time of 18 min and a dosage of 70 g. The ultra-fine grinding process of M. haplocalyx Briq. optimized by central composite design-response surface methodology was simple and fast, and the obtained model had a high degree of fit and good predictability.

Key words: Mentha haplocalyx Briq, entropy weight method, central composite design-response surface methodology, ultra-fine crushing, process optimization