Fractionation of Gallotannins from Mango (Mangifera indica L.) Kernels by High-Speed Counter-Current Chromatography and Determination of Their Antibacterial Activity

High-speed counter-current chromatography was applied to the separation of gallotannins from mango (Mangifera indica L.) kernels. The kernels were defatted and subsequently extracted with aqueous acetone [80% (v/v)]. The crude extract was purified by being partitioned against ethyl acetate. A hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water solvent system [0.5:5:1:5 (v/v/v/v)] was used in the head-to-tail mode to elute tannins according to their degree of galloylation (tetra-O-galloylglucose to deca-O-galloylglucose). The compounds were characterized using liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry in the negative ionization mode. Purities ranged from 72% (tetra-O-galloylglucose) to 100% (octa-O-galloylglucose). The iron binding capacity of gallotannins was dependent on the number of galloyl groups in the molecule, with a larger capacity at lower degrees of galloylation. The minimum inhibitory concentration against Bacillus subtilis did not change among the different gallotannins tested and was in the range of 0.05-0.1 g/L in Luria-Bertani broth but up to 20 times higher in media containing more iron and divalent cations.