A rapid, micro-scale preliminary screening method for active components in Galangal with protective effect against hydrogen peroxide induced cell apoptosis through “thin layer chromatography” and “tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay” array correspondence

A new method has been established for rapid preliminary screening active ingredients in natural products through thin layer chromatography (TLC) array responding with tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay (MTT assay) along with post LC-MS in micro-scale. The extract of the natural product was first separated by TLC. The separated spots obtained from TLC were visualized in situ with vanillin-ethanolic sulfuric acid agent to define the array correspondence between TLC spots and 384-cell culture plate for MTT cell viability assay. The TLC spots from the replicate TLC plates were then eluted and transferred into the wells of 384-cell culture plates according to the array respondence. The TLC spots with significant antioxidant activities were further screened by MTT assay, and subsequently traced and identified by LC-MS based on the TLC-MTT assay array correspondence. This new method was successfully applied to screen active ingredients in a Chinese medicine known as Galangal. Two major inhibitors for the decline of PC12 cell survival (Galangin, m/z 269.1, and 5-hydroxy-7-(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxyphenyl)-1-phenyl-3-heptanone, m/z 327.2) were effectively screened and identified by this method.