OBJECTIVETo purify caffeic acid tetramer (CAT) with macroporous resin on the basis of its fundamental physicochemical stability research.

METHODThe changes of CAT content were compared by HPLC method before and after the purification process, or while other conditions were altered.

RESULTLK001 was the best one among 7 kinds of macroporous resin in regard of purifying ability. The optimum absorbing technology was the solution concentration at 10 g x L(-1), pH at 4.5, and the flow rate at 3 BV x h(-1). The best eluting technology was 45% ethanol as eluting agent, pH at 5.0, eluting volume at 50 mL after applying super-purified water and 20% ethanol. The yield of product was 3. 6 percent, and the active compound CAT was 58 percent in the product.

CONCLUSIONMacroporous resin LK001 is effective in enriching CAT from the crude extracts, thus this method of purification is advisable.