• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.1235-1242
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• 2003

This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilatory effects of Crataegus pinnatifida Bunge and for isolation and structure determination of the constituent from the active fraction. The fruits of this herbal drug were extracted with 80% methanol, then fractioned successively with methylene chloride, ethylacetate and n-butanol. Among the fractions, ethyl acetate fraction exhibited the most effective vascular relaxation against phenylephrine-induced arterial contraction. In order to isolate the active constituent by activity-guided fractionation, this fraction was chromatographed on silica gel to yield seven subfractions. Among the subfractions, the active one showing the most potent vascular relaxation activity was further separated by prep. HPLC with reversed phase Microsorb C-18 column using 1 % acetic acid and methanol gradient solvent system to afford one pure compound, which revealed a potent vasodilatory effect. Instrumental analyses (NMR and mass spectrometry) of the isolated constituent indicated this compound to be (-)-epicatechin. The vasodilatory action mechanism of this compound should be further investigated.