Quality Evaluation and Characterization of Fractions with Biological Activity from Ephedra Herb Extract and Ephedrine Alkaloids-Free Ephedra Herb Extract

Previously, we reported that the c-Met inhibitory effect of Ephedra Herb extract (EHE) is derived from ingredients besides ephedrine alkaloids. Moreover, analgesic and anti-influenza activities of EHE and ephedrine alkaloids-free Ephedra Herb extract (EFE) have been reported recently. In this study, we examined the fractions containing c-Met kinase inhibitory activity from EHE and the fractions with analgesic and anti-influenza activities from EFE, and elucidated the structural characteristics of the active fractions. Significant c-Met kinase activity was observed in 30, 40, and 50% methanol (MeOH) eluate fractions obtained from water extract of EHE using Diaion HP-20 column chromatography. Similarly, 20 and 40% MeOH, and MeOH eluate fractions obtained from water extract of EFE were found to display analgesic and anti-influenza activities. Reversed phase-HPLC analysis of the active fractions commonly showed broad peaks characteristic of high-molecular mass condensed tannin. The active fractions were analyzed using 13C-NMR and decomposition reactions; the deduced structures of active components were high-molecular mass condensed tannins, which were mainly procyanidin B-type and partly procyanidin A-type, including pyrogallol- and catechol-type flavan 3-ols as extension and terminal units. HPLC and gel permeation chromatography (GPC) analyses estimated that the ratio of pyrogallol- and catechol-type was approximately 9 : 2, and the weight-average molecular weight based on the polystyrene standard was >45000. Furthermore, GPC-based analysis was proposed as the quality evaluation method for high-molecular mass condensed tannin in EHE and EFE.