Three modes and competitive landscape of traditional Chinese medicine fermentation
Traditional fermentation has many drawbacks, such as difficulty in precise control of the fermentation process and unstable product quality.
The intervention of modern technology has brought about earth shaking changes in the fermentation of traditional Chinese medicine.
There are three main modes of traditional Chinese medicine fermentation technology today.
Solid state fermentation, in simple terms, refers to the cultivation of microorganisms in a solid-state environment using traditional Chinese medicine as the "culture medium".
It has low cost and simple process, but it is prone to batch instability during industrial production, just like using traditional handmade soy sauce. Although the taste is mellow, the taste of each batch may be different.
Liquid fermentation is quite different, as it involves mixing extracts of traditional Chinese medicine with a culture medium and conducting deep fermentation in a liquid environment.
It's like putting ingredients into a blender and thoroughly stirring before cooking, which can better release the effective ingredients in traditional Chinese medicine and greatly improve its bioavailability.
There is also a type of bidirectional fermentation, in which microorganisms and traditional Chinese medicinal materials interact to form a "microbial medicinal symbiosis" system.
For example, the bidirectional fermentation of cicada like Penicillium and licorice residue can significantly increase the dissolution rate of glycyrrhizin, while also producing new active ingredients, just like how more treasures have been "transformed" into traditional Chinese medicine.
The competitive landscape of the traditional Chinese medicine fermentation industry is also rich and diverse.
Large pharmaceutical companies occupy an important position in the market with their strong capabilities. They have met the demands of the high-end market through continuous technological innovation and product upgrades.
For example, a large pharmaceutical company has launched fermented traditional Chinese medicine decoction pieces, each of which undergoes strict fermentation processes and quality testing to ensure the high quality of the product, and is widely popular in professional channels such as hospitals and pharmacies.
Professional biotechnology companies focus on technological innovation as their core competitiveness and have established their own advantages in segmented fields. Having over 4000 patented strains, it's like a massive microbial 'treasure trove'.
Through precise fermentation technology, the most suitable strains of Chinese medicine can be selected for fermentation based on their characteristics, and a variety of Chinese medicine fermentation products with unique effects have been developed, providing technical solutions for many enterprises.
Innovative small and medium-sized enterprises are not to be outdone, as they seek opportunities in segmented markets through differentiation strategies.
A small and medium-sized enterprise in Hangzhou has set its sights on young consumer groups and developed a series of functional skin care products such as traditional Chinese medicine fermentation facial mask.
These products combine the health benefits of traditional Chinese medicine with modern skincare concepts and are loved by young consumers.
