LAUSR

This study aimed to investigate the partition behaviors of various polar anthocyanins in NaH2PO4/(NH4)2SO4-ethanol aqueous two-phase systems (ATPS) and to extract anthocyanins from Nitraria tangutorun Bobr. and Lycium ruthenicum Murr. Anthocyanins in Hibiscus sabdariffa L., Morus atropurpurea Roxb., N. tangutorun, and L. ruthenicum were profiled using HPLC-ESI-MS/MS and HPLC-DAD, and the partition behaviors of total anthocyanins and main anthocyanins were studied. The partition coefficient of anthocyanins increased with increased hydrophobicity, and low-polarity anthocyanins exhibited a higher preference for the top phase in NaH2PO4/(NH4)2SO4-ethanol ATPS. Additionally, the NaH2PO4-ethanol ATPS gave higher selectivity and total anthocyanin yield than the (NH4)2SO4-ethanol system. Extraction at 65 °C for 45 min and at 45.5 °C for 45 min using 28% NaH2PO4 and 26% ethanol (w/w) led to the recovery of 98.91 ± 0.03% of N. tangutorun anthocyanins (3.62 ± 0.05 mg/g) and 99.84 ± 0.01% of L. ruthenicum anthocyanins (13.16 ± 0.29 mg/g) from raw material; more than 70% of total sugars were removed in a single step. NaH2PO4-ethanol aqueous two-phase extraction is a promising method for extracting anthocyanins from N. tangutorun and L. ruthenicum.