Abstract: A rapid method was developed for the preparative separation of alkaloids from Fibraurea recisa Pierre.by pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography.The crude sample was prepared by 95% ethanol reflux extraction and directly separated by pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography.The solvent system was chloroform-methanol-water (4:3:3,v/v) with 40 mM HCl in the upper stationary phase and 10 mM TEA in the lower mobile phase.The rotation speed was set at 800 rpm.The flow rate was 2.0 mL/min and the detective wavelength was 254 nm.From 1.5 g of the crude sample,231.6 mg of jatrorrhizine and 436.8 mg of palmatine were obtained and each with a purity higher that 98% as determined by HPLC.The chemical structures were identified according to MS, ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR.The pH-zone-refining counter-current chromatography was a rapid and efficient method for the separation of alkaloids from Fibraurea recisa Pierre.

Key words: Fibraurea recisa Pierre., pH-Zone-refining counter-current chromatography, alkaloids, palmatine, jatrorrhizine