A fuzzy ZE-number group decision-making framework using BWM and MABAC for risk assessment in medicinal plant extraction

What if the biggest threat to your herbal medicine isn't the plant itself, but the process? A new framework pinpoints the hidden risks in medicinal plant extraction—before they compromise quality.

Extracting bioactive compounds from medicinal plants is a delicate dance between science and nature. Yet, even the smallest misstep—a contaminated sample, a poorly calibrated instrument—can ripple through the entire production, compromising quality and standardization. Traditional risk assessments often stumble when faced with uncertainty, but a new approach is changing the game.

This study fuses Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) with advanced decision-making tools: ZE-BWM to weigh risk criteria and ZE-MABAC to rank the most critical failures. By integrating fuzzy logic and expert reliability, the framework embraces uncertainty rather than ignoring it, offering a sharper, more trustworthy risk picture.

The verdict? Sample contamination, improper handling, suboptimal extraction conditions, and calibration errors top the list of failure modes. Inconsistent raw materials and poor solvent choices also threaten purity and yield. The remedy? Standardization, rigorous quality control, and training—plus a nod to real-time monitoring, sustainable extraction, and AI-driven predictions for future resilience.

This isn't just an academic exercise. It's a data-driven roadmap to ensure every batch of herbal medicine is as safe and effective as the last.

Key Points

• FMEA + ZE-numbers: new risk framework
• Top risks: contamination, handling, calibration
• Solution: standardization, AI monitoring