Preparation of Sesquiterpenoids from Tussilago farfara L. by High‑speed Counter‑current Chromatography

Background: Sesquiterpenoids, such as tussilagone, has effects of raising blood pressure, antiplatelet aggregation, and anti‑inflammation activities, which is regarded as index compound for quality control of Tussilago farfara L. Objective: This study was aimed to obtain an effective method for fast isolation of sesquiterpenoids from T. farfara L. by high‑speed counter‑current chromatography (HSCCC). Materials and Methods: A solvent optimization method for HSCCC was presented, i.e., the separation factors of compounds after the K values of solvent system should be investigated. Results: A ternary solvent system of n‑hexane:methanol:water (5:8:2, v/v/v) was selected and applied for the HSCCC, and 56 mg of tussilagone (2) was isolated from T. farfara L., along with two other sesquiterpenoids 5.6 mg of 2,2‑dimethyl‑6‑acetylchromanone (1) and 22 mg of 14‑acetoxy‑7 β‑(3’‑ethyl cis‑crotonoyloxy)‑lα‑(2’‑methylbutyryloxy)‑notonipetranone (3) by HSCCC with high purities. Their chemical structures were elucidated by liquid chromatography‑mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance experiments. Conclusion: These results offered an efficient strategy for preparation of potentially health‑relevant phytochemicals from T. farfara L., which might be used for further chemical research and pharmacological studies by preparative HSCCC.