A simple method to optimize the HSCCC two-phase solvent system by predicting the partition coefficient for target compound.

A simple method was developed to optimize the solvent ratio of the two-phase solvent system used in the high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) separation. Some mathematic equations, such as the exponential and the power equations, were established to describe the relationship between the solvent ratio and the partition coefficient. Using this new method, the two-phase solvent system was easily optimized to obtain a proper partition coefficient for the CCC separation of the target compound. Furthermore, this method was satisfactorily applied in determining the two-phase solvent system for the HSCCC preparation of pseudolaric acid B from the Chinese herb Pseudolarix kaempferi Gordon (Pinaceae). The two-phase solvent system of n-hexane/EtOAc/MeOH/H(2)O (5:5:5:5 by volume) was used with a good partition coefficient K = 1.08. As a result, 232.05 mg of pseudolaric acid B was yielded from 0.5 g of the crude extract with a purity of 97.26% by HPLC analysis.

Chemical comparison and classification of Radix Astragali by determination of isoflavonoids and astragalosides.

Eleven major isoflavonoids and three major astragalosides in the xylem and bark of cultivated Radix Astragali (RA) from different cultivated regions of China were determined by high performance liquid chromatography. The results showed that the contents of astragalosides in the bark are up to 74-fold higher than in the xylem, and that thin roots contained more astragalosides than thick roots. Although the contents of isoflavonoids varied between samples, no significant difference was observed between the isoflavonoids content of xylem and bark, or between that of thin and thick roots. It was also found that the chemical profile of isoflavonoids in the xylem and bark are related to their cultivated regions. Constituents in either xylem or bark were divided into five groups according to their chemical structures: (1) Group 1 (G1), contained calycosin and related constituents; (2) Group 2 (G2), contained ononin and related constituents; (3) Group 3 (G3), contained (6aR,11aR)-3-hydroxy-9,10-dimethoxypterocarpan and related constituents; (4) Group 4 (G4), contained (3R)-7,2'-dihydroxy-3',4'-dimethoxyisoflavan and related constituents; and (5) Group 5 (G5), contained astragalosides, compounds AG I, AG II, and AG IV. Based on the integrated contents of constituents in each group, the cultivated region of RA was successfully distinguished by principal components analysis (PCA). Chemical constituents in RA cultivated from different regions of China were compared and it was concluded that the quality of thin RA roots is better than thick RA roots.

Rapid analysis of pseudolaric acids in Cortex Pseudolaricis and related medicinal products by high performance liquid chromatography.

A simple, rapid, reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatographic method was developed for the quantitative analysis of pseudolaric acids in Cortex Pseudolaricis and its related medicinal products. With a C(18) analytical column (4.6mmx150mm i.d.), five pseudolaric acids, namely pseudolaric acids A-C, pseudolaric acid A-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside and pseudolaric acid B-O-beta-d-glucopyranoside, were well separated within 7min. Acetonitrile and 0.10% acetic acid were used as the mobile phase in a gradient program. The UV detection wavelength was set at 260nm. The detection limits and quantification limits ranged in 8.26-16.66ng/ml and 27.54-55.53ng/ml, respectively. The intra- and inter-day variations were less than 1% for all five compounds. The recovery of all spiked pseudolaric acids ranged from 99.1% to 101.9%. Compared to existing analytical methods, this new method not only used two more important chemical markers but also provided a fivefold reduction in analysis time. In addition, the extraction method of herb sample was also modified by an orthogonal array experiment on three variable parameters: extraction time, solvent volume, and extraction cycles. The optimized extraction method was much simpler and could be efficiently used to analyse large set of herbal materials and related medicinal products. Nineteen herb samples collected from different regions of China and five related products were examined with this new analytical method. The results showed that this method is effective in distinguishing adulterants and unqualified products.

Two new xanthones isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia lancilimba.

Two new xanthones, 1,5,6-trihydroxy-6',6'-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2',3':3,4)-2-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (1) and 1,6,7-trihydroxy-6',6'-dimethyl-2H-pyrano(2',3':3,2)-4-(3-methylbut-2-enyl)xanthone (2), have been isolated from the stem bark of Garcinia lancilimba (Guttiferae), together with six known xanthones. Their structures were identified on the basis of extensive spectral evidence including detailed 2D NMR and HR-MS data. Two new compounds showed moderate inhibitory effect on human breast cancer MDA-MB-435S cell line.