I am working with a mixture of two structurally similar triterpenoids Asiatic Acid (AA) and Madecassic Acid (MA). While RP-HPLC is the standard method for analytical or preparative separation, I am looking for alternative, non-HPLC-based strategies suitable for scale-up or cost-effective lab-scale separation.

triterpenoidSame

Asiatic Acid (AA) and Madecassic Acid (MA) are both pentacyclic triterpenoids. AA has the molecular formula C₃₀H₄₈O₅, while MA is slightly more oxygenated with C₃₀H₄₈O₆. Structurally, both possess a carboxylic acid group (–COOH), but AA has three hydroxyl groups (–OH), whereas MA has four, making it slightly more polar than AA. The key difference lies in this additional hydroxyl group in MA, which may influence solubility, reactivity, and steric hindrance during derivatization or separation processes.

What I’m looking for:

• Proven or theoretical methods (non-HPLC) to separate AA and MA.
• Anyone who has succeeded in selective crystallization, derivatization-based separation, or resin chromatography.
• Any literature references or practical tips on selective reactivity or solubility-based fractionation.

Additional information that i have:

• Both compounds have similar solubility in alcohols and esters.
• Crystallization tends to give AA-rich solids, but MA remains difficult to isolate cleanly.
• Target is both purity and selectivity, ideally without expensive instrumentation.
• I'm more interested in MA rather than AA

Would appreciate any input, references, or shared experience. Thank you!