Separation of Liquiritin by simulated moving bed chromatography

Chemical profiling and quantification of Gua-Lou-Gui-Zhi decoction by high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry and ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry

Gua-Lou-Gui-Zhi decoction (GLGZD) is a classical formula of traditional Chinese medicine, which has been commonly used to treat dysfunction after stroke, epilepsy and spinal cord injury. In this study, a systematic method was established for chemical profiling and quantification analysis of the major constituents in GLGZD. For qualitative analysis, a method of high performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (Q-TOF MS) was developed. 106 compounds, including monoterpene glycosides, galloyl glucoses, phenolic acids, flavonoids, gingerols and triterpene saponins were identified or tentatively presumed by comparison with reference standards or literature data. According to the qualitative results, a new quantitative analysis method of ultra-performance liquid chromatography/triple quadrupole mass spectrometry (QqQ-MS) was established. 24 representative compounds were simultaneously detected in 10 batches of GLGZD samples in 7.5 min. The calibration curves for all analytes showed good linearity (r>0.9959) within the test ranges. The LODs and the LOQs were less than 30.6 and 70.9 ng/mL, respectively. The RSDs of intra- and inter-day precision, repeatability and stability were below 3.64%, 4.85%, 4.84% and 3.87%, respectively. The overall recoveries ranged from 94.94% to 103.66%, with the RSDs within 5.12%. This study established a high sensitive and efficient method for the integrating quality control, including identification and quantification of Chinese medicinal preparation.

Separation of Liquiritin by Two-Dimensional Liquid Chromatography

Two-dimensional liquid chromatography (2DLC) is an important technology for the separation and analysis of complex samples. Liquiritin, an important active component in licorice, was chosen as the target compound and it was separated by three kinds of off-line 2DLC, i.e. size exclusion chromatography × reversed phase chromatography, normal phase × reversed phase chromatography and reversed phase chromatography × reversed phase chromatography (SEC×RP, NP×RP and RP×RP). The chromatographic conditions were selected and the 2D systems were combined. The results show that it is feasible to separate Liquiritin from licorice extract using 2DLC. Among the 2D modes mentioned above, the highest purity of Liquiritin was obtained in the RP×RP mode, and the concentration of Liquiritin was increased most significantly in the NP×RP mode.

Solid-phase extraction of liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid from licorice using ionic liquid-based silica sorbent

A new ionic liquid-based silica sorbent was developed by a process involving surface chemical modification of commercial silica using a synthesized ionic liquid. The obtained particles were successfully used as a special sorbent in a solid-phase extraction process to isolate liquiritin and glycyrrhizic acid from licorice. Different washing and elution solvents, such as water, methanol/water (v/v), and pure methanol were evaluated. Ionic liquid-based silica sorbent was compared with traditional C(18) sorbent and it exhibited higher selectivity. Quantitative analysis was carried out by using a C(18) column. Good linearities of two compounds were obtained from 5x10(-4) to 0.2 mg/mL (r(2)>0.99) with the relative standard deviations <1.0%. The target compounds in commercial herbal medicines containing licorice were determined, and the bound rates between the target compounds and protein were obtained by this sorbent.

Simultaneous extraction and separation of liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glabridin from licorice root with analytical and preparative chromatography

Simultaneous extraction and separation of liquiritin, glycyrrhizic acid, and glabridin from licorice were developed by liquidliquid extraction with liquid chromatography separation. By utilizing different extraction solvents, procedures, and times, the optimum extraction conditions were established. The extracts of licorice were separated and determined using a C₁₈ column with a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile-water (containing 1.0% acetic acid) with a gradient elution of 0∼10 min from 20:80 to 60:40 (v/v). Preparative columns with different packing sizes were investigated to isolate the three compounds from the extracts of licorice. The 12 μm chromatographic column showed better separation for the three compounds from licorice. 0.29 mg/g for liquiritin, 1.43 mg/g for glycyrrhizic acid, and 0.07 mg/g for glabridin were obtained and the recoveries were 80.8, 89.7, and 72.5%, respectively.