Combination of chromatographic and spectroscopic methods for the isolationand characterization of polar guaianolides from Achillea asiatica

Four polar guaianolides, 8 alpha -angeloxy-2 alpha ,4 alpha ,10 beta -trihy droxy-6 betaH,7 alphaH,11 betaH-1(5)-guaien-12,6 alpha -olide; 8 alpha -ang eloxy-1 beta ,2 beta :4 beta ,5 beta -diepoxy-10 beta -hydroxy-6 betaH,7 al phaH,11 betaH-12,6 alpha -guaianolide; 8 alpha -angeloxy-4 alpha ,10 beta - dihydroxy-2-oxo-6 betaH,7 alphaH,11 betaH-1(5)-guaien-12,6 alpha -olide and 8-desacetyl-matrticarin, were isolated from Achillea asiatica and characte rized by TLC, MS, IR, HPLC and diode array detection. Purified extracts wer e separated by means of flash chromatography. HPLC separations were achieve d using different methanol-water gradients as mobile phase and LiChrospher 100-RP8 5 mum or Zorbax SB-C-8 3.5 mum as stationary phases. The chromatogr aphical data are compared to those of the proazulene 8 alpha -tigloxy-artab sin which shows antiinflammatory effects. By means of these characteristics the identification of the guaianolides with potential antiphlogistic prope rties is also possible from other sources. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. A ll rights reserved.