Separation and Purification of Acetophenones from Cynanchum bengei Decne Root Bark by Combination of Silica Gel and High-speed Counter-current Chromatography

[Objectives] To develop a method for separation and purification of acetophenones from Cynanchum bengei Decne root bark by combination of silica gel and high-speed counter-current chromatography( HSCCC). [Methods]The crude extract of Cynanchum bengei Decne root bark was separated by silica gel column chromatography,and parts A and B containing acetophenones were obtained. Then,parts A and B were separated by HSCCC with a two-phase solvent system composed of petroleum ether-ethyl acetate-methanol-water( 4∶ 6∶ 4. 5∶ 5. 5 and4∶ 6 ∶ 3 ∶ 7, V/V), respectively. [Results] From 260 mg of part A, four compounds with p-dihydroxybenzene 3. 9 mg(Ⅰ),4-hydroxyacetophenone 17. 1 mg( Ⅱ),2,5-di-hydroxyacetophenone 13. 3 mg(Ⅲ) and 2,4-dihydroxyaceto-phenone 21. 0 mg(Ⅳ) were obtained. And from 300 mg of part B,136 mg of Radix Cynanchi Bungei benzophenone(Ⅴ) was obtained. The purity of compounds determined by HPLC was 97. 0%,96. 6%,99. 2%,99. 7%,99. 5%,respectively. [Conclusions] The established method is simple and efficient. It can be used for separation of acetophenones from Cynanchum bengei Decne root bark and has better practical value,which could provide a reference basis for development and utilization of Cynanchum bengei Decne root bark.