Separation of tanshinones from Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge by multidimensional counter-current chromatography

Analytical and preparative high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) was successfully used for the isolation and purification of tanshinones from the roots of Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge. Using multidimensional HSCCC, four major components including tanshinone IIA (16 mg), tanshinone I (10 mg), dihydrotanshinone I (7 mg) and cryptotanshinone (11 mg) were isolated each at high purity of over 95%.