Accelerated solvent extraction of monacolin K from red yeast rice and purification by high-speed counter-current chromatography.

Monacolin K from red yeast rice was extracted by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). The effects of various extraction parameters including extraction temperature, static extraction time and cycle index on yield were investigated using a DIONEX ASE 300 system to select the optimal conditions by an orthogonal test design L(9) (3)(3). The optimum extraction conditions were determined as follows: extraction temperature 120°C, static extraction time 7min, and cycle index 3. Under the optimal conditions, the yield of ASE extract and monacolin K was 5.35% and 9.26mg/g of dry red yeast rice, respectively. A separation and purification method of monacolin K was then established using high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC) with a two-phase solvent system composed of n-hexane-ethyl acetate-methanol-water (8:2:5:5, v/v/v/v). From 300mg of crude extract, 51.2mg of monacolin K was obtained with the purity of 98.7%. The chemical structure of isolated compound was identified by UV, ESI-MS and (1)H NMR.