Isolation and purification of four flavanones from peel of Citrus changshanensis

Four flavanone glycosides, i.e., neoeriocitrin, naringin, hesperidin, and neohesperidin, were extracted, separated, and purified from the peel of Citrus changshanensis using homogenate extraction; AB-8 macroporous resin column chromatography, and high-speed counter-current chromatography (HSCCC). Homogenate extraction was effective in the extraction of flavanones (yield: 437 mg g−1), and HSCCC was successful in the separation of flavanones. Ethyl acetate-butanol-water (3:2:5, v/v/v) was selected to separate naringin from neohesperidin. Neoeriocitrin and hesperidin were purified with chloroform-methanol-n-butanol-water (4:3:1:3, v/v/v/v). The compounds purified by HSCCC were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The purity of neoeriocitrin, hesperidin, naringin, and neohesperidin extracted from C. changshanensis peel was 95.47, 99.62, 99.21, and 98.45%, respectively. Practical applications Homogenate extraction represents an adequate flavanone extraction method. The combination of homogenate extraction and HSCCC is effective for the isolation and purification of flavanone compounds from citrus peel. Our developed method will allow an in-depth characterization of flavanones from C. changshanensis and the comprehensive utilization of citrus by-products to reduce environmental pollution and maximize the economic value added.