Rapid screening, separation, and detection of hydroxyl radical scavengers from total flavonoids of Ginkgo biloba leaves by chromatography combined with molecular devices.

Hydroxyl radicals are the most reactive free radical of human body, a strong contributor to tissue damage. In this study, liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry was applied to screen and identify hydroxyl radical scavengers from the total flavonoids of Ginkgo biloba leaves, and high-performance counter current chromatography was used to separate and isolate the active compounds. Furthermore, molecular devices were used to determine hydroxyl radical scavenging activities of the obtained hydroxyl radical scavengers and other flavonoids from G. biloba leaves. As a result, six compounds were screened as hydroxyl radical scavengers, but only three flavonoids, namely, rutin, cosmos glycosides and apigenin-7-O-Glu-4'-O-Rha, were isolated successfully from total flavonoids by high-performance counter current chromatography. The purities of the three obtained compounds were over 90%, respectively, as determined by liquid chromatography. Molecular devices with 96-well microplates evaluation indicated that the 50% scavenging concentration values of screened compounds were lower than that of other flavonoids, they performed greater hydroxyl radical scavenging activity, and the evaluation effects were consistent with the liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry screening results. Therefore, chromatography combined with molecular devices is a feasible and an efficient method for systematic screening, identification, isolation, and evaluation of bioactive components in mixture of botanical medicines.