Separation and Preparation of high-purity huperzine A by medium pressure preparative chromatography

OBJECTIVE To establish a method for the preparation of high-purity huperzine A from the extract of huperzia serrata. METHODS By using the polymer reversed phase medium and C₁₈ reversed phase medium and two steps of medium pressure preparation in series, huperzine A monomer was isolated and prepared from the huperzia serrata extract. RESULTS The purity of 99.7% huperzine A monomer was obtained, and the overall recovery rate was 87.5%. CONCLUSION This method utilizes the characteristics of polymer medium and C₁₈ medium to provide an efficient, green and economical way to obtain pharmaceutical grade huperzine A through technological linkage.