Combination of Microwave Assisted Micellar Extraction and Liquid Chromatography for Determination of Cryptotanshinone, Tanshinone I, and Tanshinone IIA in Salvia Miltiorrhiza Bunge

Abstract

A new method based on the microwave assisted micellar extraction technique (MAME) has been optimized for the extraction of tanshinones from the traditional Chinese medicine-Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Non-ionic surfactant Genapol X-080 solution was employed as extractant. Under optimum conditions, i.e., 10% Genapol X-080 (w/v), liquid/solid ratio 80:1 (mL · g⁻¹), microwave assisted extraction time 7 min (4 min + 3 min), microwave power 260 W, particle size of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge <105 µm, the extraction efficiency of tanshinones reached the highest value. Compared with static extraction and ultrasonic assisted extraction techniques, MAME has the highest extraction yield of tanshinones and shortest extraction time. Furthermore, MAME has similar extraction efficiency with the heating reflux method recommended by Chinese Pharmacopoeia.

Keywords:

• Cryptotanshinone
• HPLC
• Microwave assisted micellar extraction
• Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge
• Tanshinone I
• Tanshinone IIA

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20575016) and the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province China (B2006000953) are gratefully acknowledged. The authors also thank the financial support from ‘the introduction of talents’ programme of Hebei University (project no. 036).

Notes

X denotes concentration (µg · mL⁻¹) of the tanshinones, Y denotes peak area, n = 5.