Semi-Preparative Scale Separation of Emodin from Plant Extract by Using Molecularly Imprinted Polymer as Stationary Phase

In this work, a core–shell molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) was synthesized through sol–gel coating procedure by using silica beads, emodin, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane, tetraethoxysilane and tetrahydrofuran as supporting matrix, template, functional monomer, cross-linker and solvent, respectively. The selective recognition property for emodin and its analogues (physcion and aloe emodin) of the resultant MIP was evaluated in a chromatographic column for high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The retention time and imprinted factor of MIP column for emodin, physcion and aloe emodin were 5.11, 0.63, 0.69 min and 4.69, 0.75, 1.38, respectively. It showed that the MIP beads had a good binding ability for emodin. Finally, one-step separation of emodin from alcohol extract of Rheum palmatum L. at semi-preparative scale was achieved and 380 mg of emodin was collected in 5 days. The product was characterized by mass spectrometry and HPLC and its purity was 95 %.