Application of High Speed Countercurrent Chromatography (HSCCC) to the Isolation of Kavalactones

Abstract

High speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was used to isolate the major kavalactones kavain, 7,8‐dihydrokavain, methysticin, 7,8‐dihydromethysticin, yangonin, and demethoxyyangonin. An ethanolic crude extract of kava root was subjected to HSCCC separation. Due to the presence of polymeric material, the sample load was limited. Hence, gel chromatography was applied in order to concentrate the kavalactones and to reduce the amount of polymers. The purified extract was again subjected to a HSCCC separation. A higher sample input was achieved, but only kavain and demethoxyyangonin were obtained in pure form. The remaining kavalactones eluted in three fractions, which needed to be further purified by preparative HPLC.

Keywords:

• Kavalactones
• Kava kava
• High speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC)
• Gel chromatography
• Preparative HPLC
• 5,6‐Dihydroyangonin
• Trans‐yangonin

Acknowledgments

The authors thank M. Messerer and Dr. G. Jerz for performing the NMR analyses.