Isolation of potential α-glucosidase inhibitor from Inonotus obliquus by combining ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography and consecutive high-speed countercurrent chromatography.

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Inonotus obliquus is a rare medicinal fungus that contains several potential therapeutic ingredients. In this study, the α-glucosidase inhibitory activity of I. obliquus was examined, and a potential α-glucosidase inhibitor, (E)-4-(3,4-dihydroxyphenyl)but-3-en-2-one, was isolated from the I. obliquus extract through ultrafiltration-liquid chromatography (UF-LC). Consecutive high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC) was used for separation to obtain large quantities of the target compound. The universal quasi-chemical functional group activity coefficient (UNIFAC) model was utilized to prepare a two-phase solvent system, n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water (4: 4.5: 3.5: 5, v/v/v/v), wherein the proportions of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/ethanol/water in the stationary and mobile phases were 19.8: 19.7: 7.9: 2.2 (v/v/v/v) and 1: 16.4: 57.5: 136.6 (v/v/v/v), respectively. A flow rate of 2.5 mL min -1 and a column speed of 860 rpm were maintained. Consequently, 10.3 mg of the target compound (95.9% purity) was obtained from 900 mg (6 × 150 mg) of the I. obliquus extract. The use of the UNIFAC model, in combination with consecutive HSCCC separations, allows the purification of large quantities of samples over a short time. Furthermore, the volume of the organic solvent required is reduced. Thus, UF-LC is an effective technique for screening potential α-glucosidase inhibitors isolated from I. obliquus. This can ultimately aid in the discovery of bioactive compounds for the prevention and treatment of diabetes.