Efficient protocol for purification of diosgenin and two fatty acids from Rhizoma dioscoreae by SFE coupled with...

Supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) was used to extract diosgenin, linoleic acid, and linolenic acid following acid hydrolysis from Rhizoma dioscoreae, a famous traditional Chinese medicine. The process was performed using a preparative SFE system under 35 MPa of pressure, 65 degrees C of temperature, and modified CO(2) with 95% ethanol for 180 min dynamic extraction. Then, the crude extract was successfully isolated and separated by high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with evaporative light scattering detection (ELSD). A two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water was used for HSCCC separation in a stepwise elution mode. The upper phase of the solvent system at the volume ratio of 1:1:1.4:0.6 by volume was used as the stationary phase, and the mobile phase after 200 min was changed into the lower phase of the solvent system at the volume ratio of 1:1.2:1.4:0.6 by volume. The separation produced a total of 20.8 mg diosgenin, 12.1 mg linoleic acid, and 18.4 mg linolenic acid from 300 mg crude extract in one-step purification. The purities of the products were 98.9, 99.0, and 99.4%, respectively, as determined by HPLC. Their chemical structures were identified by MS, UV, and the standards.