Multi-target bioactive compound screening from the infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc. by affinity chromatography using immobilized β 2 -adrenoceptor and muscarinic-3 acetylcholine receptor as the stationary phase.

As a main source for the recognition and identification of lead compounds, traditional Chinese medicine plays a pivotal role in preventing diseases for years. However, screening bioactive compounds from traditional Chinese medicine remains challenging because of the complexity of the systems and the occurrence of the synergic effect of the compounds. The infructescence of Platycarya strobilacea Sieb. et Zucc is prescribed for allergic rhinitis treatment with unknown bioactive compounds and unclear mechanisms. Herein, we immobilized the β 2 -adrenoceptor and muscarine-3 acetylcholine receptor onto the silica gel surface to prepare the stationary phase in a covalent bond through one step. The feasibility of the columns was investigated by the chromatographic method. Ellagic acid and catechin were identified as the bioactive compounds targeting the receptors. The binding constants of ellagic acid were calculated to be (1.56 ± 0.23)×10 7  M -1 for muscarine-3 acetylcholine receptor and (2.93 ± 0.15)×10 7  M -1 for β 2 -adrenoceptor by frontal analysis. While catechin can bind with muscarine-3 acetylcholine receptor with an affinity of (3.21 ± 0.05)×10 5  M -1 . Hydrogen bonds and van der Waals' force were the main driving forces for the two compounds with the receptors. The established method provides an alternative for multi-target bioactive compound screening in complex matrices.