Separation of Alkaloids from Datura Metel. and Sophora Flavescens Ait by High-Speed Countercurrent Chromatography

Abstract

High-speed countercurrent chromatography was successfully applied to the separation of alkaloids from two medicinal herbs. Matrine and oxymatrine were isolated from the root of Sophora flavescens Ait with a two-phase solvent system composed of chloroform-0.07 M sodium phosphate (pH 6.4), while atropine and scopolamine were purified from the flowers of Datura mete L. with a similar solvent system by modifying the phosphate buffer pH at 6.5. Identification of each alkaloid was made by either TLC or paper partition chromatography using authentic pure compounds.