Separation and Purification of Two Isomeric Saponins from Albiziae Cortex by High-Speed Counter-Current Chromatography and Preparative High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract

Following constituents’ enrichment steps with the AB-8 macroporous resin, silica gel, and ODS columns, high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) and preparative HPLC were successfully used for the isolation and purification of two complex isomeric saponins including a new one from albiziae cortex. The two-phase solvent system used for separation was composed of n -hexane/ n -butanol/water (1:10:5, v/v/v ). A total of 8.2 mg julibroside J 5 a and 11.6 mg julibroside J 5 with purity of higher than 98%, respectively, as determined by HPLC-ELSD were obtained from the constituents enriched fraction (475.4 mg) of albiziae cortex. Their structures were identified by HR-MS, 1 H NMR 13 C NMR, and 2D NMR. This is the first ever report on the separation of complex isomeric saponins from albiziae cortex by HSCCC.