Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography of the hydrolysed lignan macromolecule of flaxseed

The lignan macromolecule (LM) was extracted from defatted flaxseeds using ethanol:dioxane (1:1, v/v) and then purified by Amberlite XAD-16 column chromatography with water and methanol as mobile phases. The LM was subjected to base hydrolysis (0.3 M NaOH, 2 days at room temperature under continuous stirring). Four general fractions (I-IV) containing phenolic compounds were obtained from the hydrolysate using Sephadex LH-20 column chromatography with methanol as mobile phase. Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside (SDG) was present in fractions I and II. The applied technique is useful prior to semi-preparative HPLC in the purification procedure of SDG to be used as a standard.