Isolation and purification of series bioactive components from Hypericum perforatum L. by counter-current chromatography

Counter-current chromatography (CCC) combined with pre-separation by ultrasonic solvent extraction was successively used for the separation of series bioactive compounds from the crude extract of Hypericum perforatum L The petroleum ether extract was separated by the solvent system of n-heptane-methanol-acetonitrile (1.5:0.5:0.5, v/v) and n-heptane-methanol (1.5:1, v/v) in gradient elution, yielding a phloroglucinol compound, hyperforin with HPLC purity over 98%. The ethyl acetate extract was separated by using the solvent system composed of hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (1:1:1:1 and 1:3:1:3, v/v) in gradient through both reverse phase and normal phase elution mode, yielding a naphthodianthrone compound, hypericin with HPLC purity about 95%. The n-butanol extract was separated with the solvent system composed of n-butanol-ethyl acetate-water (1:4:5 and 1.5:3.5:5, v/v) in elution and back-extrusion mode, yielding two of flavones, rutin and hyperoside, with HPLC purity over 95%. HPLC-MS, reference sample and UV spectrum were selectively used in separation to search for target compounds from HPLC-DAD profiles of different sub-extracts. The structures of isolated compounds were further identified by ESI-MS, (HNMR)-H-1 and (CNMR)-C-13. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.