Preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography for purification of shikonin from the Chinese medicinal plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon

J Chromatogr A. 2004 Jan 9;1023(1):159-63. doi: 10.1016/j.chroma.2003.09.022.

Abstract

The bioactive compound shikonin was successfully isolated and purified from the crude extract of the traditional Chinese medicinal plant Lithospermum erythrorhizon Sieb. et Zucc. by preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). The preparative HSCCC was performed using a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethylacetate-ethanol-water (16:14:14:5 (v/v)). A total amount of 19.6 mg of shikonin at 98.9% purity was obtained from 52 mg of the crude extract (containing 38.9% shikonin) with 96.9% recovery. The preparative isolation and purification of shikonin by HSCCC was completed in 200 min in a one-step separation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Countercurrent Distribution / methods*
  • Lithospermum / chemistry*
  • Naphthoquinones / chemistry*
  • Plants, Medicinal / chemistry*

Substances

  • Naphthoquinones
  • shikonin