Extraction of Anthraquinones from Rhubarb by a Molecularly Imprinted–Matrix Solid-Phase Dispersion Method with HPLC Detection

Abstract

A simple method based on matrix solid-phase dispersion for selective extraction of anthraquinones from rhubarb samples was developed using a molecularly imprinted polymer as sorbent. The molecularly imprinted polymer was prepared using emodin as the template molecule, methacrylic acid as the functional monomer, and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate as the cross-linking agent. The polymer was characterized by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectrometry. Isothermal adsorption and dynamic adsorption experiments were performed. The best extraction conditions for anthraquinones were obtained at a ratio of molecularly imprinted polymer to sample of 1:1, a dispersion time of 5 minutes, with 5% aqueous methanol as the washing solvent, and an elution solvent of methanol-acetic acid (99:1, v/v). Once the matrix solid-phase dispersion process was optimized, the extract was reacted with 8% hydrochloric acid for hydrolysis. The anthraquinones extracted from rhubarb were determined by liquid chromatography. The detection limits of chrysophanol, emodin, physcion, and aloe-emodin were 0.23, 0.24, 0.28, and 0.27 µg mL⁻¹, respectively. The proposed method was compared with the method in Chinese pharmacopoeia, and the results show that the extraction yield of anthraquinones obtained by molecularly imprinted polymer–matrix solid-phase dispersion method was higher. Moreover, the proposed method is faster and simpler and can achieve extraction and purification in the same system.

Keywords:

• Anthraquinones
• Liquid chromatography
• Matrix solid-phase dispersion
• Molecularly imprinted polymer
• Rhubarb

Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. DL10DB01) and the Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China (No. 20110491016).