Recent advances in counter-current chromatography

Countercurrent chromatography approach to palladium and platinum separation using aqueous biphasic system

For the first time, widespread aqueous biphasic polymer-salt extraction system was applied for selective separation of Pd(II) and Pt(IV) from chloride technological solutions by countercurrent chromatography using a rotating coiled column (an analog of centrifugal extractor). The principle novelty of the proposed approach is the possibility of multistage extraction process and the needlessness to add any specific reagents for targeted metal binding. The results showed that the use of poly(ethylene glycol)-1500 (PEG-1500) as a stationary phase allows 96-100% of both Pd(II) and Pt(IV) to be recovered from chloride solutions containing copper and nickel. To obtain individual solutions of targeted metals it is enough to change the composition of the salt-rich phase for stripping stage, in particular the salt concentration and pH value. The final purity of the targeted metal fractions obtained after their extraction from model technological solutions is ≥ 99.9%. The components of the aqueous biphasic system are recyclable, non-toxic, available, and widespread in laboratory and technology practice. A scheme of the multistage separation of platinum metals using a rotating coiled column is proposed.

Preparative Isolation and Purification of Calycosin and Formononetin from Astragali Radix using Hydrolytic Extraction Combined with High Speed Countercurrent Chromatography

Calycosin and formononetin were efficiently extracted from Astragali Radix and purified by high-speed countercurrent chromatography. Calycosin and formononetin could be hydrolyzed from calycosin-7-glucoside and ononin, respectively. The best extraction conditions were realized by single factor and orthogonal experiments, which were 100% ethanol, 2.5 mol/L hydrochloric acid, 1:40 ratio of solid to liquid, extracted 2 h and one time. The two-phase solvent system of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (3:5:3:5, v/v) was selected for the purification of calycosin, and 1.3 mg calycosin (the purity was 95.8% and the recovery was 85.9%) was obtained from 264.9-mg crude extraction. The two-phase solvent system of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-ethanol-water (4:5:4:5, v/v) was selected for the purification of formononetin, and 2.0 mg formononetin (the purity was 98.9% and the recovery was 84.4%) was obtained from 248.9-mg crude extraction. Their structures were identified by HPLC, melting points, UV, FTIR, ESI-MS, 1H NMR and 13C NMR spectrum. According to the antioxidant activity assay, the scavenging abilities of calycosin to 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl and hydroxyl free radicals (·OH) were stronger. The scavenging effect of formononetin was not demonstrated.

Separation of Four Flavonol Glycosides from Solanum rostratum Dunal Using Solvent Sublation Followed by HSCCC and Low Column Temperature Preparative HPLC

Hyperoside, 3'-O-methylquercetin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside, astragalin and 3'-O-methylquercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside from an invasive weed Solanum rostratum Dunal were separated and purified successfully by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:7:1:7, v/v) and gradient elution mode preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (prep-HPLC) with low column temperature. In the sample pretreatment section, target compounds in aqueous extract of the weed were concentrated using solvent sublation. Two target fractions with purities of 93.75% and 93.68% were obtained from HSCCC. Their chemical structures were identified. The fraction 1 is a pure compound hyperoside and the fraction 2 is the mixture of astragalin, 3'-O-methylquercetin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside and 3'-O-methylquercetin 3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside by nuclear magnetic resonance and liquid chromatography-mass spectra. Then, the three flavonol glycosides in the fraction 2 were separated and purified successfully by prep-HPLC with low column temperature.

Concentrical coils counter-current chromatography for natural products isolation: Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as example

Countercurrent chromatography (CCC) is an efficient separation technique without the solid support matrix, largely depending on the partition of two-immiscible liquid phases in the separation column. Since the helical coil planet centrifuge was invented in early 1970s by Yoichiro Ito, a series of coils columns, including spiral coils and conical coils columns have been developed for CCC separation. In this work, we introduced a new simple and efficient concentrical coils column for CCC separation, which was prepared by winding the whole polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) tube into the circular grooves from the rotation axis in the same direction. Once the PTFE tube filled in all space of one round of the circular groove, it was jumped into the nearby outer circular groove through the gap and until the whole groove was filled. The three same concentrical coils distributed on three disc-shaped holders were connected by the same PTFE tube to form concentrical coils separation column. The separation capacity was further investigated using ten tanshinones of the extracts of a Traditional Chinese Medicine Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge as a model natural product. All results indicated that the concentrical coils column could hold satisfactory retention of the stationary phase, higher theoretical plate number and better resolution for CCC separation of more than ten tanshinones. It may be an alternative CCC column for non-targeted and targeted isolation of bioactive natural products.

Ionic Liquid-Based Ultrasonic-Assisted Extraction of Forsythosides from the Leaf of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl and Subsequent Separation and Purification by High-Speed Counter-Current Chromatography

An ionic liquid-based ultrasonic-assisted extraction (ILUAE) method was developed for the extraction of the two forsythosides, namely forsythosides I and A from the leaf of Forsythia suspensa (Thunb.) Vahl. Three kinds of l-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different alkyl chain and anion were investigated. The results indicated that ionic liquids showed remarkable effects on the extraction yields of forsythosides. In addition, several ILUAE ultrasonic parameters, such as the solvent concentration, solvent to solid ratio and extraction time have been optimized. Under these optimal conditions (e.g., with 0.6 M [C6MIM]Br, solvent to solid ratio of 15 mL/g and extraction time of 10 min), this approach gained the highest extraction yields of forsythoside I (0.89%) and forsythoside A (10.74%). Meanwhile, forsythosides in the ILUAE extract were separated and purified successfully through the high-speed counter-current chromatography with a two-phase solvent system consisting of ethyl acetate-ethanol-acetic acid-water (4 : 1 : 0.25 : 6, v/v). 5.4 mg of forsythoside I and 59.7 mg of forsythoside A were obtained from 120 mg of the prepurified sample in one-step separation, with the purity of 96.1 and 97.9%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. Their structures were identified by (1)H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and (13)C NMR.

Preparative separation of five flavones from flowers of Polygonum cuspidatum by high-speed countercurrent chromatography

A preparative high-speed countercurrent chromatography method was successfully used for the isolation of five minor flavones from Polygonum cuspidatum flowers. Among them, three compounds were obtained from P. cuspidatum for the first time. A twin two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (1:6:3:6, v/v/v/v) and petroleum ether/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (2:4:3:3, v/v/v/v) was developed. Compounds were obtained from the fraction B and fraction C prepurified by silica gel column chromatography. Five minor compositions, 6.8 mg of hesperidin, 11.2 mg of phloridzin, 4.9 mg of luteolin, 5.3 mg of hyperin, and 3.7 mg of luteoloside were obtained from 140 mg of the fraction B and 110 mg of fraction C with a purity of 95.3, 96.4, 98.0, 96.8, and 95.3%, respectively, as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography. The structures of these compounds were identified by (1) H and (13) C NMR spectroscopy.

Preparative isolation and purification of indigo and indirubin from Folium isatidis by high-speed counter-current chromatography

INTRODUCTION

Indigo and indirubin are the main active ingredients found in traditional Chinese herbal medicine Folium isatidis. An effective method for the isolation and purification of indigo and indirubin from Folium isatidis is needed. Compared with the conventional column chromatographic techniques, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) is a suitable alternative for the enrichment and purification of these target compounds, and eliminates the complications resulting from a solid support matrix.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a reliable HSCCC method for isolation and identification of indigo and indirubin in a one-step separation from Folium isatidis.

METHODOLOGY

The optimum extracting conditions of indigo and indirubin from Folium isatidis were investigated by orthogonal test L(16) (4(5)). The target compounds were isolated and purified with a solvent system of n-hexane:ethyl acetate:ethanol:water (1:1:1:1, v/v) and the lower phase was used as the mobile phase in the head-to-tail elution mode. The purities of target compounds were tested by HPLC and their structures were identified by UV, IR, electrospray ion source (ESI)-MS, (1) H-NMR and (13) C-NMR analyses.

RESULTS

From 165 mg of the crude extract, 5.65 mg of indigo and 1.00 mg of indirubin were obtained by HPLC analysis with purities of 98.4% and 99.0% respectively, and their mean recoveries were 91.0% and 90.7%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The HSCCC method is effective for the preparative separation and purification of indigo and indirubin in a one-step separation from Folium isatidis.

PREPARATIVE ISOLATION AND PURIFICATION OF THREE GLYCINE-CONJUGATED CHOLIC ACIDS FROM PULVIS FELLIS SUIS BY HIGH-SPEED COUNTERCURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY COUPLED WITH ELSD DETECTION

Coupled with evaporative light scattering detection, a high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was developed for preparative isolation and purification of three glycine-conjugated cholic acids, glycochenodeoxycholic acid (GCDCA), glycohyodeoxycholic acid (GHDCA) and glycohyocholic acid (GHCA) from Pulvis Fellis Suis (Pig gallbladder bile) for the first time. The separation was performed with a two-phase solvent system consisted of chloroform-methanol-water-acetic acid (65:30:10:1.5, v/v/v/v) by eluting the lower 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, 2 ml/min and 25 °C, respectively. In a single operation, 33 mg of GCDCA, 38 mg of GHDCA and 23 mg of GHCA were obtained from 200 mg of crude extract with the purity of 95.65%, 96.72% and 96.63%, respectively, in one step separation. The HSCCC fractions were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and the structures of the three glycine-conjugated cholic acids were identified by ESI-MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR.

Isolation of bioactive components from Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze using high-speed counter-current chromatography and time-controlled collection method

Semipreparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) by time-controlled collection method was successfully applied for isolation and purification of α-terthienyl, 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl, and 5-(3-penten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl from Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze for the first time. The two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane and acetonitrile at the volume ratio of 1:1 (v/v) was used for the semipreparative HSCCC. The 5.2 mg α-terthienyl, 2.2 mg 5-(3-buten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl, and 4.3 mg 5-(3-penten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl with the purity of 99.9, 90.2, and 92.1% were produced from 265.6 mg crude extract, respectively, and 5-(3-penten-1-ynyl)-2,2'-bithienyl was first isolated from Flaveria bidentis (L.) Kuntze. The structures of the separated compounds were identified by electrospray-ionization mass spectrometry and proton and carbon nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H- and (13)C-NMR).

ISOLATION OF FIVE BIOACTIVE COMPONENTS FROM EUPATORIUM ADENOPHORUM SPRENG USING STEPWISE ELUTION BY HIGH-SPEED COUNTER-CURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY

Semi-preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully performed for isolation and purification of caffeic acid 4 bioactive flavonoids from Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng using stepwise elution with a pair of two-phase solvent systems composed of ethyl acetate-methanol-water at the volume ratios of 10: 1: 10 and 5: 1: 5 (v/v). From 378.5 mg of crude extract 24.1 mg of caffeic acid, 6.7 mg of 4'-methyl quercetagetin 7-O-(6"-O-E-caffeoylglucopyranoside), 6.5 mg of quercetagetin 7-O-(6"-O-acetyl-β-D-glucopyranoside), 31.8 mg of eupalitin 3-O-β-D-galactopyranoside and 36.7 mg of eupalitin were obtained with the purities of 96.0%, 91.2%, 82.3%, 95.1% and 85.6%, respectively. The structures of the separated compounds were identified by EI-MS, (1)HNMR and (13)CNMR.

An application of high-speed counter-current chromatography for separation and purification of bungeiside-A, bungeiside-B and baishouwubenzophenone from Cynanchum bungei Decne

INTRODUCTION

Cynanchum bungei Decne (Baishouwu in China), is a famous traditional Chinese medicine that has been widely used as a tonic medicine or health food for centuries. Bungeiside-A, bungeiside-B and baishouwubenzophenone, as the major bioactive constituents in C. bungei, are challenging to separate and purify since bungeiside-A and -B are present in very low concentrations and have similar structures and high polarity.

OBJECTIVE

To develop a method of isolation and purification of bungeiside-A and -B and baishouwubenzophenone from the Chinese medicinal plant Cynanchum bungei Decne by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC).

METHODOLOGY

The roots of C. bungei were extracted with light-petroleum (60-90 °C) and chloroform to remove the lipid substance. Then the residuals were extracted with methanol. The methanol extract was prepared for the subsequent HSCCC separation. The simple HSCCC method of separation and purification of bungeiside-A and -B and baishouwubenzophenone was established according to the solvent system, which was selected according to the measurement of partition coefficient (K). The purities of target compounds were test by HPLC and the structure was identified by ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.

RESULTS

Bungeiside-A (9.4 mg), bungeiside-B (8.6 mg) and baishouwubenzophenone (5.7 mg) were obtained from 1.5 g of the methanol extract with purities of 93.2, 98.7 and 95.4%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

These results clearly demonstrate that HSCCC is a powerful tool for isolating and purifying components with similar structures, low concentration and high polarity from medicinal plant, such as bungeiside-A and -B and baishouwubenzophenone.

One-step separation of three flavonoids from Poacynum hendersonii by high-speed counter-current chromatography

INTRODUCTION

Owing to them having the same traditional name, the leaves of Apoacynum venetum and Poacynum hendersonii are used indiscriminately in some areas of China. Although a series of studies have been conducted on Apoacynum venetum, there are only a few studies on Poacynum hendersonii.

OBJECTIVE

To develop an efficient method for the preparative isolation and purification of flavonoids from the leaves of Poacynum hendersonii by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC).

METHODOLOGY

Powdered Poacynum hendersonii lead was extracted three times with 75% ethanol at 60 °C for 3 h. The distribution constant (K(D) ) was measured to select an optimal two-phase solvent system for HSCCC separation. The purities of the target compounds were tested using HPLC and their structures were identified by ¹H-NMR and ¹³C-NMR.

RESULTS

Using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-butanol-petroleum ether-0.5% acetic acid (5:3:5, v/v), three main flavonoids, i.e. isoquercitrin, quercetin-3-O-sophoroside and quercetin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucoside, were separated from 240 mg crude sample in a one-step separation by using HSCCC method. After further purification with a Sepdex-LH20 column, 5.7 mg isoquercitrin (LC purity 98.72%), 4.9 mg quercetin-3-O-sophoroside (LC purity 99.06%) and 7.4 mg quercetin-3-O-(6''-O-malonyl)-β-D-glucoside (LC purity 99.31%) were obtained, respectively.

CONCLUSION

The optimised high-speed counter-current chromatography method is fast, simple and efficient for the preparative separation of flavonoids from the leave of Poacynum hendersonii.

Ionic liquid based ultrasonic assisted extraction of isoflavones from Iris tectorum Maxim and subsequently separation and purification by high-speed counter-current chromatography

We developed an ionic liquid based ultrasonic assisted extraction (ILUAE) method for the extraction of the three isoflavones, namely tectoridin, iristectorin B and iristectorin A from Iris tectorum Maxim of the Iridaceae family. Three kinds of 1-alkyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquids with different alkyl chain and anion were investigated. The results indicated that ionic liquids (ILs) showed remarkable effects on the extraction yield of isoflavones. In addition, the ILUAE, including several ultrasonic parameters, such as the concentration, extraction time and solvent to solid ratio have been optimized. Under these optimal conditions (e.g., with 30 min extraction time and the solvent to solid ratio of 30 ml/g), this approach gained the highest extraction yields of tectoridin (37.45 mg/g), iristectorin B (2.88 mg/g) and iristectorin A (5.28 mg/g). Meanwhile, tectoridin, iristectorin B and iristectorin A in the ILUAE extract were separated and purified successfully through the high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system consisting of n-butanol-water (1:1, v/v). The additional advantage of this approach is that 60.21 mg tectoridin, 4.33 mg iristectorin B and 8.24 mg iristectorin A with more than 95.0% purities have been obtained from 400 mg ILUAE extract of I. tectorum within 5 h and one-step elution under the most optimized conditions (e.g., a flow rate of 2.0 ml/min, 900 rpm and the wavelengh of 280 nm). The obtained fractions were successfully analyzed by HPLC and identified by (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR.

Semi-Preparative Isolation and Purification of Three Tauro-Conjugated Cholic Acids from Pulvis Fellis Suis by HSCCC Coupled with ELSD Detection

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.

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 5.91mg psoralen, 6.26mg isopsoralen, 3.19mg psoralidin, 0.92mg corylifol A, and 2.43mg 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 250mg ethyl acetate fraction of P. corylifolia extract. Following an additional clean-up step by preparative TLC, 0.4mg 8-prenyldaidzein (purity 91.7%), 4.18mg neobavaisoflavone (purity 97.4%) and 4.36mg isobavachalcone (purity 96.8%) were separated from the three individual sub-fractions. The structures of the isolated compounds were identified by (1)H NMR and (13)C 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 44.7microM. This is the first report on simultaneous separation of eight compounds from P. corylifolia by HSCCC.

Strategies of solvent system selection for the isolation of flavonoids by countercurrent chromatography

Flavonoids form a large class of important naturally occurring bioactive compounds. Their isolation and purification from natural sources can sometimes be very difficult and time-consuming when traditional phytochemical techniques are used. Countercurrent chromatography (CCC), a support-free liquid-liquid partition chromatography technique, is very useful for the isolation of polar compounds and its use is increasing in the natural products field. In this paper, we propose strategies of solvent system selection for the isolation of flavonoids by CCC, based on data from the literature, plus incorporation of own practical experiences. The selected references report the isolation of over 300 different flavonoid compounds from more than 100 plant species, using 40 different solvent systems, showing the versatility of this technique. The solvent system hexane-ethylacetate-methanol-water is proposed as a starting point for the separation of samples containing free flavonoids, as it was cited in more than 60% of the papers. A "fine tuning" step is proposed at each level of this solvent family. Other modifications include exchanging the alcohol in the system as well as introducing a fifth solvent. The solvent system ethyl-acetate-butanol-water is proposed as the starting point for glycosylated flavonoids. Other solvent systems are also discussed. The use of gradients is proposed for samples containing both free and glycosylated flavonoids, as the polarity window is larger in these cases. High-speed countercurrent chromatography was used in 89% of the reviewed data.

ISOLATION OF CAFFEIC ACID FROM EUPATORIUM ADENOPHORUM SPRENG BY HIGH-SPEED COUNTERCURRENT CHROMATOGRAPHY AND SYNTHESIS OF CAFFEIC ACID-INTERCALATED LAYERED DOUBLE HYDROXIDE

Preparative high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for isolation and purification of caffeic acid from Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng with a solvent system composed of ethyl acetate-methanol-water at a volume ratio of 10:1:10, v/v. Using a preparative unit of the HSCCC centrifuge, about a 938 mg amount of the crude extract was separated, yielding 63.2 mg of caffeic acid at purity of 96.0%. Then, the anti-microbial and anti-virus drug caffeic acid (C(9)H(8)O(4)) was intercalated into layered double hydroxides for the first time by anion exchange under a nitrogen atmosphere. The product caffeic acid-LDH has been characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform-infrared (FT-IR), Scanning electron micrographs (SEM), indicating that the drug has been successfully intercalated into LDH.

A new non-synchronous preparative counter-current centrifuge-the next generation of dynamic extraction/chromatography devices with independent mixing and settling control, which offer a step change in efficiency

A new and significantly more robust design of non-synchronous coil planet centrifuge is introduced where the degree of mixing between two immiscible phases can be changed independently from the "g" field required to separate out the phases. A hypothesis that an optimum ratio between the speed of the bobbin and the speed of the rotor can be found to optimise the efficiency of the separation for a given force field is upheld for an intermediate polarity phase system. This paves the way for extensive further research to find the optimum non-synchronous conditions for a range of different phase systems that are desirable for the separation of large molecules, proteins and biologics but can tend to emulsify in the standard "J" type centrifuge systems currently available and routinely in use for aqueous organic phase systems. A step change of up to 30% in resolution and 90% in plate efficiency is demonstrated.

Americium(III)/curium(III) separation by countercurrent chromatography using malonamide extractants

The separation of Am(III) and Cm(III) by countercurrent chromatography (CCC) was achieved using the liquid phase systems "diamide–hydrogenated tetrapropylene (TPH)–HNO3" following the optimisation of: (i) the compositions of the mobile (HNO3 concentration) and the stationary (nature of the diamide and its concentration in TPH) phases, (ii) column length and (iii) operating parameters of the CCC (flow rate of the mobile phase and rotation speed of the coil column).

The following diamide extractants have been studied: (i) N,N´-dimethyl-N,N´-dibutyltetradecylmalonamide (DMDBTDMA), (ii) N,N´-dimethyl-N,N´-dioctylhexyl-ethoxymalonamide (DMDOHEMA) and (iii) N,N´-dimethyl-N,N´-dibutyldodecylethoxymalonamide (DMDBDDEMA). It is shown that these diamides can be used for the separation of Am(III) and Cm(III) by CCC. Increasing the column length leads to an increase of the stationary phase retention on the column while improving the Am/Cm separation. Increasing the speed of rotation of the centrifuge from 660 to 950 rpm also results in increasing the stationary phase retention but does not influence the resolution of the Am/Cm separation. Decreasing the flow rate of the mobile phase from 1.0 to 0.5 mL/min leads to a better resolution of Am and Cm separation. The best Am/Cm separation was achieved with systems based on DMDBDDEMA and DMDOHEMA in TPH using a two-layer coil column and an isocratic elution mode. The application of CCC makes it possible to separate the elements within 100 min: the Cm fraction contains 99.5% of Cm(III) and 0.6% of Am(III) inventories and the Am fraction contains 99.4% of Am(III) and 0.5% of Cm(III).

Application of high-speed counter-current chromatography for the isolation of antiviral eremophilenolides from Ligularia atroviolacea

Ligularia is mainly distributed in the western regions of China. Most of the species have been traditionally used in folk medicine for the treatment of hepatitis B, asthma, hemoptysis and pulmonary tuberculosis. In our continuation of research on antiviral components from traditional Chinese medicine, Ligularia atroviolacea was tested for inhibitory effects on hepatitis B virus (HBV). A bioassay-guided phytochemical examination of L. atroviolacea disclosed that its ethyl acetate extract, which was made up of two eremophilenolides, showed suppressive activity on the expression of HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) in the HepG2.2.15 cell line. Then a simple and effective preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography method was successfully developed for the isolation and purification of two main active metabolites, 8beta-hydroxyeremophil-3,7(11)-dien-12,8alpha;15,6alpha-diolide and 8beta-methoxyeremophil-3,7(11)-dien-12,8alpha;15,6alpha-diolide from the ethyl acetate extract of L. atroviolacea by a one-step separation using a two-phase solvent system composed of light petroleum (60-90 degrees C)-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (9:1:8:2, v/v/v). The chemical structures of the two eremophilenolides were identified by ESI-MS, (1)H-NMR and (13)C-NMR analysis. The anti-HBV activity of the two purified compounds was measured; both of them showed suppressive activity on the expression of HBsAg in the HepG2.2.15 cell line. The results support the continued and expanded exploitation and utilization of L. atroviolacea.

Countercurrent separation of natural products

An assessment of the technology and method development in countercurrent chromatography (CCC) and centrifugal partition chromatography (CPC), collectively referred to as countercurrent separation (CS), is provided. More than six decades of CS theory and applications are critically reviewed and developed into a practical guide to CS for natural products research. The necessary theoretical foundation is given for better use of CS in the separation of biological molecules of any size, small to large, and from any matrix, simple to complex. The three operational fundamentals of CS--instrumentation, biphasic solvent systems, and theory--are covered in a prismatic fashion. The goal of this review is to provide the necessary background and references for an up-to-date perspective of CS and to point out its potential for the natural products scientist for applications in natural products chemistry, metabolome, and proteome research involving organisms from terrestrial and marine sources.

Two-dimensional counter-current chromatography for the preparative separation of prenylflavonoids from Artocarpus altilis

A two-dimensional counter-current chromatographic system (2D-CCC) for preparative isolation and purification of three prenylflavonoids from Artocarpus altilis is presented. An upright CCC instrument (CCC1, total capacity: 1600 ml) was used as the first dimension. Effluent of interest from CCC1 was collected on-line into a 30 ml sample loop by a laboratory-prepared column-switching interface and introduced into a high-speed CCC instrument (CCC2, total capacity: 210 ml) for the second dimension separation. With this 2D-CCC system and a pair of two-phase solvent systems composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (5:5:7:3 and 5:5:6.5:3.5, v/v/v/v), which had been selected by high-speed CCC, about a 500 mg amount of the crude extract was separated, yielding 9 mg of compound 1, 28 mg of compound 2 and 78 mg of compound 3. The purities of the three prenylflavonoids were 98.7 (1), 98.3 (2) and 97.2% (3), respectively, as determined by HPLC analysis. Their chemical structures were identified by electrospray ionization MS, (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR.

Preparative isolation of four ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng (steam-treated Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer), by high-speed counter-current chromatography coupled with evaporative light scattering detection

Ginseng (Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer) has been well known to have a variety of ginsenosides that show diverse biological activities. Especially, the components of ginsenosides are quite different depending on the processing method. Recently, there have been several reports showing that less polar ginsenosides from Korean red ginseng (steam-treated Panax ginseng) have potent biological activities such as radical scavenging, vasodilating and anti-tumor activities. In this study, we have isolated four known ginsenosides Rg3, Rk1, Rg5 and F4 from Korean red ginseng by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) coupled with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). The enriched saponin fraction (350 mg) was separated by using methylene chloride-methanol-water-isopropanol (6:6:4:1, v/v) as the two-phase solvent system and yielded 28.6 mg of Rg5, 26.6 mg of Rk1, 32.2 mg of Rg3 and 8.1 mg of F4. The purity of these ginsenosides was assessed by HPLC-ELSD to be over 95%, and their structures were characterized by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS), (1)H NMR and (13)C NMR.

One-step separation and purification of 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, salvianolic acid B and protocatechualdehyde from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-speed counter-current chromatography

Three kinds of polyphenols of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge, 3,4-dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, salvianolic acid B and protocatechualdehyde, were separated and purified in one step with solvent system n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-acetic acid-water (1:6:1.5:1.5:8) by high-speed counter-current chromatography. Acetic acid was successfully used to increase the partition of high polar target compounds in organic phase to modify partition coefficient value. 3,4-Dihydroxyphenyllactic acid, salvianolic acid B and protocatechualdehyde were purified from 100mg water extracted crude sample of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge at purity of 97.6%, 94.2% and 98.2% and at yield of 98.6%, 73.6% and 90.2%. High-speed counter-current chromatography together with organic/aqueous solvent system supplied an efficient method to purify water-soluble compounds directly from crude samples of traditional Chinese medicines.

Isolation of chlorophylls a and b from spinach by counter-current chromatography

A method for the isolation of chlorophylls from spinach by counter-current chromatography was developed. An initial extraction protocol was devised to avoid the notorious sensitivity of chlorophylls to degradation by light, heat, oxygen, acids and bases. Further purification and separation of chlorophylls a and b were achieved using counter-current chromatography. Chlorophyll structures and purities were established by HPLC, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance. Purity was estimated to be >95% (100% by HPLC). Typical yields from 30g of freeze-dried spinach were 300mg of chlorophyll a and 100mg of chlorophyll b.