Solid-phase extraction for purification of alkannin/shikonin samples and isolation of monomeric and dimeric fractions

Anal Bioanal Chem. 2010 Jul;397(6):2221-32. doi: 10.1007/s00216-010-3717-5. Epub 2010 May 9.

Abstract

Isohexenylnaphthazarins (IHN), commonly known as alkannins and shikonins (A/S), are potent pharmaceutical substances with a wide spectrum of wound healing, antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, and antitumor activity. Purification of A/S is crucial for their use in pharmaceuticals and for biological experimentation. Dimeric and oligomeric A/S derivatives co-exist with the active monomeric ones in most of the samples produced either by (semi)-synthesis or biotechnologically or isolated from natural products. Oligomeric A/S derivatives have not been studied for biological activity hitherto and a method to isolate them is essential.In the present study, solid-phase extraction (SPE) was applied for purification of commercial samples and isolation of monomeric and oligomeric A/S fractions, testing several stationary phases. Sephadex LH-20 cartridges achieved efficient purification for commercial samples containing both monomeric and dimeric A/S derivatives and also separation and isolation of both pure monomeric and dimeric A/S fractions for biological experiments. A high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection method was applied for detection, identification and quantification of monomeric and oligomeric shikonin fractions.

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Chromatography, Liquid / instrumentation
  • Dextrans
  • Naphthoquinones / isolation & purification*
  • Solid Phase Extraction / methods*

Substances

  • Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal
  • Dextrans
  • Naphthoquinones
  • alkannin
  • shikonin
  • sephadex