High selective purification of flavonoids from natural plants based on polymeric adsorbent with hydrogen-bonding interaction

The efficient purification method of high purity flavonoids from natural plants was reported. A series of polymeric adsorbents with novel structure were synthesized based on the copolymerization of methyl acrylate (MA) and ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EDGMA). Functional groups, such as ester, amino or amide group, were introduced into the adsorbent matrix, respectively, to produce the hydrogen-bonding interaction and enhance the adsorption selectivity towards flavone compounds. The influences of matrix structure and functional groups of synthesized adsorbents on the adsorption selectivity were investigated. The resins were applied to purify flavonoids in natural plants. It was illuminated that the adsorbent No. 3B with 15% EGDMA content and amide groups performed optimal selectivity to flavone compounds in Scutellaria barbata D.Don, from which the purity of flavonoids in extracts was obtained more than 50%, obviously higher than that from commercial adsorbents. The result of adsorption thermodynamics experiment showed that the isosteric adsorption enthalpy of No. 3B was in the range of 25–30 kJ/mol, which testified that the adsorption mechanism was related to hydrogen-bonding interaction. The method showed its universality via good effects on the purification of total flavonoids from Ginkgo biloba L., Radix puerariae and Hypericum perforatum L.