Application of high-speed counter-current chromatography for the isolation of 5 alkaloids from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) leaves

A high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) method was developed for isolation of 5 alkaloids from lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) leaves. The 2-phase solvent system of HSCCC composed of light petroleum-ethyl acetate-methanol-water was set up in 2- step separation process in the proportion of 3:5:3:5 for isolation of N-nornuciferine and armepavine, and in the proportion of 1:5:1:5 for that of anonaine, pronuciferine, and nuciferine. The purity of anonaine (14.6mg), pronuciferine (29.7 mg), N-nornuciferine (31.4 mg), nuciferine (22.1 mg), and armepavine (23.3 mg) isolated from 150 mg crude extract of lotus leaves were examined as 95.6, 88.2, 92.5, 94.3, and 92.1%, respectively.