Separation of flavonoids from the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Several flavonoids including 2',3,4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone, 5,6,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone and butin, were separated from the seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd by high-speed counter-current chromatography using a two-step operation. Two different types of solvent systems were used: chloroform-dichloromethane-methanol-water (2:2:3:2, v/v) and 1,2 dichloroethane-methanol-acetonitrile-water (4:1.1:0.25:2, v/v). From 1 kg of seeds of Vernonia anthelmintica Willd the method yielded about 45 mg of 2',3,4,4'-tetrahydroxychalcone, 40mg of 5,6,7,4'-tetrahydroxyflavone, and 55 mg of butin. Each isolated component showed 95-97% purity as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography analysis. These purified compounds were characterized by MS and NMR.     

Application of preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography for the separation of flavonoids from the leaves of Byrsonima crassa Niedenzu (IK)

The methanolic extract of the leaves of the medicinal plant Byrsonima crassa (Malpighiaceae) contain flavonoids with antioxidant activity. They were separated in a preparative scale using high-speed counter-current chromatography. The optimum solvent system used was composed of a mixture of ethyl acetate-n-propanol-water (140:8:80 (v/v/v)) and led to a successful separation between monoglucosilated flavonoids (quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinoside, quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactoside) and the biflavonoid amentoflavone in only 3.5 h. The purities of quercetin-3-O-alpha-L-arabinoside (95 mg), quercetin-3-O-beta-D-galactoside (16 mg) and the biflavonoid amentoflavone (114 mg) were all isolated at purity over 95%. Identification was performed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR and UV analyses.     

Nuclear magnetic resonance-based solvent system selection for counter-current chromatography separation of compounds present in the same high-performance liquid chromatography peak: Flavonoids in barley seedlings as an example

Partition coefficient is a key parameter for counter-current chromatography separation. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) is the most commonly used tool for the screening of partition coefficients. However, HPLC technology is not applicable to the compounds present in the same chromatographic peak. Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) technology could easily distinguish compounds according to their characteristic absorption even if they exist in the same HPLC peak. In this study, two flavonoids present in the same HPLC peak were successfully purified by counter-current chromatography with a solvent system screened by NMR to show the great potential of NMR technology in the screening of the partition coefficient of co-efflux compounds. Through NMR screening, an optimized ethyl acetate/n-buthanol/water (7:3:10, v/v/v) system was applied in this study. As a result, two flavonoids, including 4.8 mg of 3′-methoxyl-6′’’-O-feruloylsaponarin and 9.8 mg of 6′’’-O-feruloylsaponarin were separated from 15 mg of the mixture. There is only one methoxy group difference between the two flavonoids. This study provides a new strategy for the screening of counter-current chromatography solvent systems and broadens the application scope of counter-current chromatography.     

Preparative isolation of novel antioxidant flavonoids of alfalfa by stop-and-go counter-current chromatography and following on-line liquid chromatography desalination

In this work, we have established a new stop-and-go two-dimensional chromatography coupling of counter-current chromatography and liquid chromatography (2D CCC × LC) for the preparative separation of two novel antioxidant flavonoids from the extract of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). The CCC column has been used as the first dimension to purify the target flavonoids using a solvent system of isopropanol and 20% sodium chloride aqueous solution (1:1, v/v) with the stop-and-go flow technique, and the LC column packed with macroporous resin has been employed as the second dimension for on-line absorption, desalination and desorption of the targeting effluents purified from the first CCC dimension. As a result, two novel flavonoids, 6,8-dihydroxy-flavone-7-O-β-D-glucuronide (15.3 mg) and 6-methoxy-8-hydroxy-flavone-7-O-β-D-glucuronide (13.7 mg), have been isolated from 126.8 mg of crude sample pre-enriched by macroporous resin column. Their structures have been identified by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), electrospray ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (ESI-TOF-MS) and one- and two-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectra (1D and 2D NMR). Further antioxidant assays showed that the first component possess a strong antioxidant activity. All the results demonstrated that the stop-and-go 2D CCC × LC method is very efficient for the separation of flavonoids of alfalfa and it can also be applied to isolate other comprehensive multi-component natural products.     

Preparative isolation and purification of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone from Aucklandia lappa Decne by high-speed counter-current chromatography

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone from the Chinese medicinal plant Aucklandia lappa Decne (Muxiang in Chinese) was successfully established by using light petroleum-methanol-water (5:6.5:3.5, v/v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. The upper phase of light petroleum-methanol-water (5:6.5:3.5, v/v/v) was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. 35.7 mg of costunolide and 43.6 mg of dehydrocostuslactone with the purity of 100% and 99.6%, respectively, were separated successfully in one-step separation from 110 mg of crude sample from Aucklandia lappa Decne. The structures of costunolide and dehydrocostuslactone were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

制备色谱法分离纯化高良姜黄酮中高良姜素和山柰素

建立了制备型高效液相色谱(Prep-HPLC)分离高良姜黄酮中高良姜素和山柰素的方法。高良姜黄酮经HPD-600树脂吸附洗脱纯化后,采用Prep-HPLC分离高良姜黄酮中高良姜素和山柰素。制备色谱条件:流动相为甲醇-0.6%(v/v)乙酸水溶液(58:42, v/v),柱温为常温,流速为7.0 mL/min,检测波长为360 nm,进样量为700 μ L,上样质量浓度为10.0 g/L。分离的单体由质谱和核磁共振氢谱、碳谱鉴定确证为高良姜素和山柰素,HPLC外标法定量,纯度分别为99.5%和99.7%。该方法分离效果好、高效、低毒,可用于高良姜中高良姜素和山柰素的分离制备。     

Preparative isolation and separation of a novel and two known flavonoids from Patrinia villosa Juss by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for isolation and separation three flavonoids including bolusanthol B, a novel compound named 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone and tetrapterol I from Patrinia villosa Juss using two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water at the volume ratio of 10:11:11:8 (v/v). A total of 25.4 mg bolusanthol B, 52.5 mg 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone and 50.2 mg tetrapterol I were obtained from 250 mg crude extract with purities of 96.8%, 99.2% and 99.3%, respectively determined by HPLC in one single operation and less than 5 h. The structure identification was performed by UV, IR, MS, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and 2D NMR. Among then, bolusanthol B and tetrapterol I were obtained from the plant of Patrinia genius for the first time, and 5,7,2',6'-tetrahydroxy-6,8-di(gamma,gamma-dimethylallyl) flavanone was a novel prenylated flavonoid and discovered from nature for the first time.     

Isolation of antioxidants from Psoralea corylifolia fruits using high-speed counter-current chromatography guided by thin layer chromatography-antioxidant autographic assay

A combinative method using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and thin layer chromatography (TLC) as an antioxidant autographic assay was developed to separate antioxidant components from the fruits of Psoralea corylifolia. Under the guidance of TLC bioautography, eight compounds including five flavonoids and three coumarins were successfully separated from the fruits of P. corylifolia by HSCCC with an optimized two-phase solvent system, n-hexane–ethyl acetate–methanol–water (1:1.1:1.3:1, v/v/v/v). The separation produced 5.91 mg psoralen, 6.26 mg isopsoralen, 3.19 mg psoralidin, 0.92 mg corylifol A, and 2.43 mg bavachinin with corresponding purities of 99.5, 99.8, 99.4, 96.4, and 99.0%, as well as three sub-fractions, in a single run from 250 mg ethyl acetate fraction of P. corylifolia extract. Following an additional clean-up step by preparative TLC, 0.4 mg 8-prenyldaidzein (purity 91.7%), 4.18 mg neobavaisoflavone (purity 97.4%) and 4.36 mg isobavachalcone (purity 96.8%) were separated from the three individual sub-fractions. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR. The results of antioxidant activity estimation by electron spin resonance (ESR) method showed that psoralidin was the most active antioxidant with an IC₅₀ value of 44.7 μM. This is the first report on simultaneous separation of eight compounds from P. corylifolia by HSCCC.     

Separation and purification of baicalin and wogonoside from the Chinese medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi by high-speed counter-current chromatography

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of baicalin and wogonoside from the Chinese medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi (Huang-qin in Chinese) was successfully established by using ethyl acetate-methanol-1% acetic acid water (5:0.5:5, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. The upper phase of ethyl acetate-methanol-1% acetic acid water (5:0.5:5, v/v) was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. Baicalin (58.1 mg) and wogonoside (17.0mg) with the purity of 99.2 and 99.0%, respectively, were separated successfully in one-step separation from 120 mg of crude sample from S. baicalensi, Georgi. The structures of baicalin and wogonoside were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

Preparative separation of isovitexin and isoorientin from Patrinia villosa Juss by high-speed counter-current chromatography

High-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (2:1:3, v/v/v) was used to isolate and separate two C-glycosylflavones from Patrinia villosa Juss, a traditional Chinese medicine. The separation produced 42.9 mg isovitexin and 20.1 mg isoorientin with purities of 99.3% and 98.5%, respectively as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) in one step elution from 250 mg crude extract, and identification was performed by MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR. It is the first report of discovering isovitexin and isoorientin from the plant of Patrinia genus.     

Preparative isolation and purification of psoralen and isopsoralen from Psoralea corylifolia by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Psoralen and isopsoralen were separated from Psoralea corylifolia by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). A two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:4.5:5.5, v/v) was used for HSCCC separation, and yielded, from 100 mg of crude extract, 39.6 mg of psoralen and 50.8 mg of isopsoralen each at over 99% purity as determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The identification of psoralen and isopsoralen were performed with 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

Preparative isolation and purification of bioactive constituents from Aconitum coreanum by high-speed counter-current chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection

Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD) was employed for the isolation and purification of alkaloids from the roots of Aconitum coreanum (Lèvl.) Rapaics. The two-phase solvent system used in HSCCC was n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-0.2M HCl (1:3.5:2:4.5, v/v/v/v). Six alkaloids were obtained and yielded 10.4 mg of Guanfu base P, 9.2 mg of Guanfu base G, 9.5 mg of Guanfu base F, 8.9 mg of atisine, 11.9 mg of Guanfu base A and 25.7 mg of Guanfu base I from 2 g of crude extracts. The purity of these compounds was 96.9%, 95.7%, 91.5%, 98.9%, 95.8% and 95.5%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Their chemical structures were identified by MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR.     

Preparative isolation and purification of coumarins from Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn by high-speed counter-current chromatography

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of coumarins from Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn (Baihuaqianhu in Chinese) was successfully established by using light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water as the two-phase solvent system in gradient elution mode. The upper phase of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:5:5, v/v) was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. The mobile phase used in HSCCC was the lower phase of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:5:5, v/v) and light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:6.5:3.5, v/v) that was changed in gradient. Four kinds of coumarins and another unknown compound were obtained and yielded 5.3 mg of qianhucoumarin D, 7.7 mg of Pd-Ib, 35.8 mg of (+)-praeruptorin A, 31.9 mg of (+)-praeruptorin B and 6.4 mg of unknown compound with the purity of 98.6%, 92.8%, 99.5%, 99.4% and 99.8% in one-step separation, respectively. The structures of the coumarins were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

Isolation and purification of baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A from the medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis by high-speed counter-current chromatography

The medicinal plant Scutellaria baicalensis Georgi has been used widely in traditional Chinese medicine for anti-inflammation, anticancer, antiviral and antibacterial infections, reducing the total cholesterol level and decreasing blood pressures. A high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was developed for the preparative separation and purification of three bioactive flavonoids, namely, baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A, from S. baicalensis Georgi. Preparative HSCCC with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-n-butanol-water (1:1:8:10, v/v/v/v) was successfully performed by increasing the flow-rate of the mobile phase stepwise from 1.0 to 2.0 ml min(-1) after 4 h. The components purified and collected were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The method yielded 144.8 mg of baicalein at 95.7% purity, 50.2 mg of wogonin at 98.5% purity, and 12.4 mg of oroxylin A at 93.2% purity from 500 mg of the crude extract in a one-step separation. The recoveries of baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A were 92.7%, 91.6% and 92.5%, respectively.     

Microwave‐assisted extraction coupled with countercurrent chromatography for the rapid preparation of flavonoids from Scutellaria barbata D. Don

As a famous Chinese herb having good inhibitory effects on numerous human cancers both in vitro and in vivo, Scutellaria barbata D. Don attracts extensive attention worldwide. In this work, four flavonoids named scutellarin, baicalin, luteolin, and apigenin were simply and rapidly prepared from S. barbata by microwave‐assisted extraction coupled to countercurrent chromatography. Extraction conditions including irradiation time, extraction temperature, liquid/solid ratio, and microwave power were optimized using an orthogonal array design method. The extract of S. barbata was separated and purified with a two‐phase solvent system composed of hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/acetic acid/water (1:5:1.5:1:4, v/v/v/v/v) and 4.5 mg of scutellarin, 4.6 mg of baicalin, 1.1 mg of luteolin, 2.1 mg of apigenin were obtained from 2.0 g original sample in a single run. The purities of scutellarin, baicalin, luteolin, and apigenin determined by HPLC were 93.6, 97.3, 97.6, and 98.4%, respectively. The targeted compounds were identified by LC with MS and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The total time including extraction, separation, and purification was <300 min. Compared to traditional methods, microwave‐assisted extraction coupled to countercurrent chromatography method is more simple and rapid for the extraction, separation, and purification of flavonoid compounds from natural products.     

High performance liquid chromatography equipped with a cathodic detector and column-switching device as a high-throughput method for a phosphatase assay with p-nitrophenyl phosphate

A preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method for isolation and purification of coumarin compounds from the Chinese medicinal plant Peucedanum decursivum (Miq.) Maxim (Zihuaqianhu in Chinese) was successfully established by using light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:7:4, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system. The upper phase of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:7:4, v/v) was used as the stationary phase of HSCCC. Nodakenetin (2.8 mg), 6.1 mg of Pd-C-IV, 7.3 mg of Pd-D-V, 4.7 mg of ostruthin, 7.8 mg of decursidin and 11.2 mg of decursitin C with the purity of 88.3%, 98.0%, 94.2%, 97.1%, 97.8% and 98.4%, respectively, were separated successfully in one-step separation from 150 mg of crude sample from P. decursivum (Miq.) Maxim. After purified by HSCCC again with light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:4:5, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system, the purity of (I) can reach 99.4%. The structures of all the compounds were identified by 1H NMR and 13C NMR.     

PREPARATIVE ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF FIVE FLAVONOIDS FROM POGOSTEMON CABLIN BENTH BY HIGH-SPEED COUNTERCURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY AND PREPARATIVE HIGH-PERFORMANCE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY

High-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) and preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) were successively used for the separation of pogostone and four flavonoids from Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth. An efficient HSCCC separation was achieved on a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (11:5:11:5, v/v/v/v). Three well-separated peaks were obtained in the HSCCC chromatogram. The first and the second fractions each contained two flavonoids which were further separated by preparative HPLC. Consequently, the separation yielded 11.5 mg of 4', 5-Dihydroxy-3', 7-dimethoxyflavanone at a purity of 99%, 20.3 mg of 5- Hydroxy-7, 3', 4'-trimethoxyflavanone at a purity of 98%, 18 mg of 5, 4'-Dihydroxy-3, 7, 3'-trimethoxyflavone at a purity of 96%, and 8 mg of 5-Hydroxy-3, 7, 4'-tetramethoxyflvone at a purity of 98%. The third HSCCC fraction yielded 18.5 mg of pogostone at a purity of 95%. The chemical structures of these compounds were identified by ESI-MS(n), (1)H-NMR, and (13)C-NMR.     

SEPARATION OF THE MINOR FLAVONOLS FROM FLOS GOSSYPII BY HIGH-SPEED COUNTERCURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY

An effective high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) method was established for further separation and purification of four minor flavonols in addition to five major flavonols which were reported by our previous study from extracts of Flos Gossypii. HSCCC was performed with three two-phase solvent systems composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (7.5:15:6:7, v/v), (2.5:15:2:7, v/v) and (0:1:0:1, v/v). The separation was repeated 3 times, and 3.8 mg of 8-methoxyl-kaempferol-7-O-β-D-rhamnoside (HPLC purity 98.27%), 6.7 mg of astragalin (HPLC purity 94.18%), 3.3 mg of 4'-methoxyl-quercetin-7-O-β-D-glucoside (HPLC purity 94.30%) and 8.2 mg of hyperoside (HPLC purity 93.48%) were separated from 150 mg of the crude sample. The chemical structures of the flavonols were confirmed by MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR. Meanwhile, the results indicated that the target compound with smaller K value (<0.5) can be separated by increasing column length of HSCCC. And four separation rules of flavonols according to the present study and references were summarized, which can be used as a useful guide for separation of flavonols by HSCCC.     

Isolation and purification of oridonin from Rabdosia rubescens using upright counter-current chromatography

A preparative counter-current chromatography (CCC) method for isolation and purification of oridonin, a new cancer chemoprevention agent, from the Chinese medicinal plant Rabdosia rubescens was successfully established. The crude oridonin was obtained by elution with a light petroleum/acetone solvent mixture from ethanol extracts of R. rubescens using column chromatography on silica gel. With a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (1:2:1:2, v/v), 120 mg of oridonin at the purity of 97.8% was obtained from 200 mg of the crude sample in a single-step CCC separation. The structure of oridonin was identified by ESI-MS, 1H NMR, and 13C NMR.     

Allan J. Bard and Cynthia G. Zoski (Eds): Electroanalytical Chemistry

Coupled with evaporative light scattering detection, a high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was applied to the separation and purification of three tauro-conjugated cholic acids of taurochenodeoxycholic acid (TCDCA), taurohyodeoxycholic acid (THDCA) and taurohyocholic acid (THCA) from Pulvis Fellis Suis (Pig gallbladder bile) for the first time. The two-phase solvent system composed of chloroform-methanol-water-acetic acid (4:4:2:0.3, v/v/v/v) was selected for the one-step separation where the lower phase was used as the mobile phase in the head to tail elution mode. The revolution speed of the separation column, flow rate of the mobile phase and separation temperature were 800 rpm, 1.5 ml/min and 25°C respectively. From 100 mg of the crude extract, 10.2 mg of TCDCA, 11.8 mg of THDCA and 5.3 mg of THCA were obtained with the purity of 94.6%, 96.5% and 95.4%, respectively. in one step separation The HSCCC fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the structures of the three tauro-conjugated cholic acids were identified by ESI-MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR.