Thin-layer chromatography of hydroxyanthraquinones in plant extracts

Summary Existing thin-layer chromatographic (TLC) methods for the separation of hydroxyanthraquinones in plant materials were found to have limited applications. This initiated the development of some new TLC systems to separate the five principal hydroxyanthraquinones: chrysophanol, physcion, emodin, rhein and aloe emodin normally present together in plant materials, on a single chromatogram and usually with a single solvent system.     

Anaerobic Reduction of Anthracycline Antibiotics and Their Model Compounds by Fe(II) Complexes

Abstract

Hydroxyanthraquinones, model compounds for anthracycline antibiotics, are reduced by Fe(II)-ADP and Fe(II)-phosphate complexes to produce semiquinone radicals. In case the corresponding hydroquinone is stable, two electron reduction is caused by the Fe(II)-phosphate complex, rather strong reducing agent.     

Purification of hydroxyanthraquinones and cinnamic acid from the roots of Rheum officinale Baill

A chromatographic method for isolation and purification of chemical constituents from the well-known traditional Chinese drug Da-huang (roots of Rheum officinale Baill.) was established by using 12% cross-linked agarose gel, Superose 12, as the separation media. A two-step separation procedure is employed. Sixty five percent methanol was used as the eluent for separation of cinnamic acid, rhein, physcion and emodin form Da-huang crude extract. The fraction containing aloe-emodin and chrysophanol was then separated by using 55% methanol containing 0.5% acetic acid as the eluent. As a result, cinnamic acid and five kinds of hydroxyanthraquinones including rhein, aloe-emodin, chrysophanol, physcion and emodin were obtained. The retention behavior of hydroxyanthraquinones on Superose 12 was also studied. The retention of hydroxyanthraquinones on Superose 12 is based on a mixture of hydrogen bonding and hydrophobic interactions between the hydroxyl groups of the hydroxyanthraquinones and the residues of the cross-linking reagents used in the manufacturing process of Superose 12.     

Two-dimensional counter-current chromatography: 1st traditional counter-current chromatography, 2nd acid-base elution counter-current chromatography

An on-line column-switching counter-current chromatography (CCC) with solid-phase trapping interphase is presented in this paper. The large volume injection is avoided using solid-phase trapping interphase. Thereby, totally different chemical composition biphasic solvent system can be utilized to enhance system orthogonality. In the present work, a 140 mL-capacity CCC instrument was used in the first dimension, and a parallel three-coil CCC centrifuge (40 mL each coil) was used in the second dimensional separation allowing three injections at the same time. With biphasic solvent system composed of n-hexane: ethyl acetate: methanol: water (1:1:1:1, v/v), five well-separated fractions were obtained in the first dimension. Two fractions were online concentrated and further separated in the second dimension with solvent system composed of methyl tert-butyl ether: acetonitrile: water (2:2:3, v/v), where trifluoroacetic acid (10 mM) was added to the upper organic phase as a retainer and triethylamine (10mM) to the aqueous mobile phase as an eluter. Four hydroxyanthraquinones were successfully separated and purified from Chinese medicinal plant Rheum officinale in only one step.     

Hydroxyanthraquinones Carminic Acid and Chrysazin Anodic Oxidation

The anodic oxidation of the hydroxyanthraquinones carminic acid (CA) and chrysazin (CR) was investigated. The oxidation of CA proceeds in a pH‐dependent cascade mechanism, concerning the hydroquinone, the catechol and the 3‐OH groups in the anthraquinone moiety. The oxidation of the hydroquinone following the catechol electron‐donating groups occurs first at low positive potentials, the 3‐OH group is oxidized irreversibly at a higher potential. The oxidation of CR is pH‐dependent and occurs in successive steps. Oxidation of the hydroquinone tautomer in the CR‐ring occurs first, and the symmetrical 1‐OH and 8‐OH groups are irreversibly oxidized at the same higher potential.     

Calorimetric investigation of the effect of hydroxyanthraquinones in Rheum officinale Baill on Staphylococcus aureus growth

The inhibitory effects of five hydroxyanthraquinones (HAQs) from root and rhizoma of Rheum officinale Baill, a traditional Chinese medicinal (TCM) herb, on Staphylococcus aureus growth were investigated by calorimetry. The power-time curves of S.aureus with and without HAQ were acquired and the extent and duration of inhibitory effects on the metabolism evaluated by growth rate constants (k₁, k₂), half inhibitory ratio (IC₅₀), maximum heat output (P_max) and peak time (t_p). The value of k₁ and k₂ of S. aureus in the presence of the five HAQs decreased with the increasing concentrations of HAQs. Moreover, P_max was reduced and the value of t_p increased with increasing concentrations of the five drugs. The inhibitory activity varied for different drugs. IC₅₀ of the five HAQs was 4 μg ml⁻¹ for emodin, 3.5 μg ml⁻¹ for rhein, 10 μg ml⁻¹ for aloe-emodin, 1000 μg ml⁻¹ for chrysophanol, 1600 μg ml⁻¹ for physcion. The sequence of antimicrobial activity of the five HAQs: rhein > emodin > aloe-emodin > chrysophanol > physicion.