Constituent of natural food additive hokosshi extract and an analytical method for the additive in foods

Hokosshi extract is obtained by ethanol extraction from the seeds of hokosshi (Psoralea corylifolia), which is used as a Chinese medicine. The constituents of hokosshi extract were analyzed. The main constituent was isolated using column chromatography, and identified as bakuchiol by TLC, LC/MS and NMR. Bavachinin A was also detected. In order to prepare a marker substance for hokosshi extract, bakuchiol was isolated from seeds of hokosshi using Sep-Pak cartridges. An analytical method for hokosshi extract in foods based on detection of bakuchiol was developed. Bakuchiol was extracted from food with 60 vol% ethanol. The extract was cleaned up using a Sep-Pak plus C18 cartridge, and bakuchiol was determined by HPLC. Seasoning and juice were spiked with hokosshi extract at 500 mug/g and analyzed by the proposed method. The recoveries of bakuchiol were 72similar to99%. The detection limit for the assay was 25 mug/g.