[Purification and fingerprinting development of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by high-speed counter-current chromatography].
In an attempt to apply high-speed counter-current chromatography HSCCC for TCM fingerprints, the separation and purification of the Chinese medicinal plant Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge of different localities was realized using the technique. The equipments used include a HSCCC (TBE-300) of Shenzhen Tauto Biotech containing three connected preparative coils (diameter of tube = 2.6mm, total volume = 300mL) and a 20mL sample loop and a HPLC from Shimadzu of Japan with a Ultrasphere C18 column (150 x 4.6mm ID, 5microm) and a 20microL sample loop. Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge samples from 3 locations were separated by HSCCC in a Step-wise elution program with solvent systems A (hexane:ethanol: water = 10:5.5:4.5) and B (hexane:ethanol: water = 10:7:3) at a speed of 900 r/min and a flow-rate of 2mL/min. All the 12 peak fractions were eluted within 13 hours. The contents of each component varied greatly in different samples, which confirmed previous observation that the locations and climates have a great impact on the TCM quality and also indicated a quality control system is necessary to safeguard the quality of the herb. The retention times of the 12 peak fractions from crude extracts of the samples were collected by HPLC and the absorption spectrums of the corresponding peaks were identified. The 12 components of the three crude samples were readily distinguishable and can be used as fingerprints of S. miltiorrhiza Bunge. The relative standard deviation of the HSCCC retention times was less than 3%, which satisfies the requirement of the national standard reference index. The components 7, 8 and 11 from the standards were identified to be crypototanshinone, tanshinone I and tanshinone II A respectively. This study demonstrates that if it is possible to apply HSCCC for TCM fingerprinting, especially with samples of high viscosity and highly absorptive components. The precision and the run time of fingerprinting can be further improved if larger volume and a temperature control system is used. With these and other improvements, HSCCC is expected to play an important role in TCM development.