Large scale purification of the SERCA inhibitor Thapsigargin from Thapsia garganica L. roots using centrifugal partition chromatography

Thapsigargin (Tg) is a selective and irreversible inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum calcium ATPase (SERCA)-dependent pump at subnanomolecular concentrations. As such, it has become a powerful tool in the study of Ca2+ signaling pathway. Purification of Tg from Thapsia species requires repeated chromatographic steps with normal-phase alumina or silica and reverse phase chromatography. We thus developed an innovative procedure coupling high pressure automatized extraction with centrifugal partition chromatography allowing a fast and safe large-scale isolation of highly pure Tg, in two steps from Thapsia garganica L. roots. Comparison of influence of extraction procedures, storage conditions and harvesting areas on Tg content in different Algerian specimens of Thapsia garganica L. roots has been precised by mean of HPLC quantification procedure. Highest Tg content were found in the fresh material of the sample from Setif area.

► Thapsigargin is a very useful tool to study calcium-dependent signaling pathways.
► Isolation of Thapsigargin from Thapsia garganica L. is highly hazardous.
► We developed a two steps procedure coupling accelerated solvent extraction to CPC.
► Thapsigargin amount in different specimens of Thapsia garganica L. was quantified.
► Highly pure Thapsigargin could be obtained using a fast and safe procedure.