A novel approach for synchronous transformation and extraction of psoralen from fig (Ficus carica L.) leaves based on polarity of different macroporous adsorption resins.

[Display omitted] • A new method for efficient extraction of psoralen from fig leaves was developed. • The application of resin as catalyst in the field of chemical engineering was proposed. • Extraction yield of psoralen catalyzed by D072 resin was 1.91-fold than before. • The content of psoralen enriched by X-5 resin was 24.8-fold than before. In this study, using fig leaves as materials, strong acidic cation exchange resin of D072 with –SO 3 H functional group was selected as catalyst to promote the conversion of psoralen-glucoside (PO) to psoralen (PSO), and the strong acidic cation exchange resin transformation method (SACERTM) was developed for efficient extraction of PSO from fig leaves. Under the optimized extraction conditions, the yield of PSO was 36.74 mg/g. The transformation efficiency of PO to PSO reached 70.41% using 2 g of D072 resin as catalyst. Then, PSO in fig extract was enriched efficiently by X-5 macroporous adsorption resin (MAR). After eluting with 14-fold of column volume of 70% ethanol at 0.64 BV/h of elution flow rate, the purity of PSO was 24.8-fold higher than before enrichment. The results show that SACERTM combined with MAR purification is an efficient method for extracting and enriching PSO from fig leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]