Abstract:

This study reports the separation of fractions with inhibitory activity against 5α-reductase from oiltea camellia
extracts (OCE), prepared by refluxing the fruit hull of oiltea camellia (Camellia oleifera Abel.) with hot ethanol. After
polyamide chromatography and color development using n-butyl alcohol-methanol-water-glacial acetic acid volume ratio
3:2:2:1, OCE were clearly divided into seven fractions, namely Fr1 through Fr7, whose Rf was in the range of 0.85–0.037 5.
The results of inhibition assays indicated that Fr 4 and Fr 5 had the highest inhibitory effect on 5α-reductase, with inhibition
rates of (73.01 ± 2.93)% and (76.28 ± 1.37)%, respectively, which were significantly higher than that reported for OCE
(57.79 ± 1.67)%. The yield of Fr5 was 2.10% and its composition was relatively simple by HPLC detection, suggesting
successful concentration of active ingredients. These results suggest that the application of polyamide chromatography can
effectively separate anti-5α-reductase components from OCE, and provides a basic condition for the preparation of key anti-5α-
reductase compounds from OCE and a convenient and efficient method of separating strongly polar phenolic acids system as well.
Key words: polyamide; chromatography; oiltea camellia extracts; 5α-reductase; active fractions