Microwave-assisted extraction coupled with counter-current chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography for the preparation of six furocoumarins from Angelica Pubescentis Radix

• An efficient MAE coupled with CCC and prep-HPLC method was developed.
• Six furocoumarins with high purity were prepared from original A. Pubescentis.
• The method was effective for the preparation of furocoumarins from natural product.

An efficient separation and purification method by microwave-assisted extraction coupled with counter-current chromatography and preparative liquid chromatography was developed. The extracts obtained from microwave-assisted extraction were rapid separated with counter-current chromatography, and then the fractions were further purified with preparative liquid chromatography. With this method, six furocoumarins including xanthotoxin, bergapten, columbianetin acetate, osthole, isoimperatorin and columbianadin can be obtained from original Angelica Pubescentis Radix samples within total time of 450 min. Their purities were 98%, 98%, 99%, 99%, 99% and 99% respectively, as determined by HPLC. The structures of these compounds were identified by 1H NMR and MS spectroscopy. The proposed method was economic, rapid and effective, and it can be used to prepare and purify targets from natural products.