Preparative isolation of 8-methoxypsoralen from the rhizomes of Pulsatilla chinensis using high-speed counter-current chromatography

Abstract

A simple and rapid purification method of 8-methoxy-psoralen from the crude methanol extract of the rhizomes of Pulsatilla chinenis was established using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). From the crude extract (233.2 mg), 8-methoxypsoralen (10.0 mg) was separated for the first time in one-step, using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water (5:5:5:5, v/v/v/v). The isolated amount of this compound was found to be equivalent to 89% of the amount observed quantitatively in the crude methanolic extract. The final purity of the 8-methoxy-psoralen was determined to be over 98% by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-UV analysis.