Modeling and optimization of the protocol of complex chromatography separation of cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors from...

The spores of the medicinal fungus Ganoderma lucidum possess hepatoprotective properties. The main components, triterpenes, are particularly beneficial, making the screening and preparation of active triterpenes from Ganoderma lucidum significant.

We aimed to screen and verify cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors from G. lucidum spores, establish a rapid online hyphenated technique for the preparation of active ingredients, and analyze the structures of the active ingredients.

Ultrafiltration LC combined with an enzyme inhibition assay and molecular docking was employed to screen and evaluate cyclooxygenase-2 ligands, which were prepared by pressurized liquid extraction coupled online with countercurrent chromatography and semi-preparative LC. The structures of the compounds were identified by nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Six cyclooxygenase-2 inhibitors, namely, ganoderic acids I, C₂ , G, B, and A and ganoderenic acid A, were screened and evaluated. They were prepared using the online hyphenated technique, following which their structures were identified.

This study provides opportunities for the discovery and development of new therapeutic drugs from other natural resources, as the present instrumental setup achieved efficient and systematic extraction and isolation of natural products compared with reference separation methods, thus exhibiting significant potential for industrial applications.