Objective: Through systematic study on many factors of influence of macroporous resin adsorption and separation, screening the best macroporous resin for purification of total flavonoids and saponins of Astragalus.
Methods: The adsorption and desorption properties of total flavonoids and saponins on macroporous resins including D101, AB-8, XAD-1, HP-20, SP825, LSA-40, LX-18, XDA-5 and ADS-7 were compared. According to the results, XDA-5, D101 and AB-8 offered higher adsorption and desorption capacities and higher adsorption speed for total flavonoids and saponins than other resins. Column packed with XDA-5 resin was used to perform dynamic adsorption and desorption tests to optimize the separation process.
Results: XDA-5 type macroporous resin owned optimum adsorption and elution parameters. The dynamic adsorption ratio of total flavonoids of Astragalus was 58.83 mg/mL after eluted with 4BV of distilled water and 4BV of 30%, 50%, 70% ethanol, respectively. Contents of total flavonoids and saponins of Astragalus were 28.75%, 44.38%, respectively.
Conclusion: It is a reliable and accurate method for development and industrial production of compound drug containing Astragalus.