New progress in the preparation of swainsonine-anticancer active component, and lycopene, was achieved by the Key Laboratory of Northwestern Plant Resources Utilization, Lanzhou Institute of Chemical Physics (LICP), CAS, and the Research Group of Technology Standards of Medicines, Key Laboratory of Natural Medicines of Gansu Province, LICP. The research results have passed the scientific and technological achievement appraisal organized by the Gansu S&T Department on January 8, 2010.

Taking swainsonine-anticancer active component in oxytropis kansuensis,as the research object, the Research Group has established the preparation technology of total alkaloids which is composed of water cycle extraction, impurities removal using macroporous resins, concentration by ion exchange resin, countraflow extraction /back-extraction. And with the second order counter-current chromatography purification as the core technique, the industrialized preparation technology of swainsonine has increased the efficiency of the separation and purification of effective components. The project has effectively utilized the poisonous-weeds which are abundant in Gansu province and laid the foundation for the development of new anticancer drugs with swainsonine as the effective component.

By using the technology of “separation of skin and seed of tomato residues- enzymatic hydrolysis/pre-saponification-critical liquefied gas extraction-extraction and purification using silica gel as solid phase for the first time, the Research Group has extracted and separated lycopene from tomato residues. The green health food with lycopene, linoleic acid, Vitamin E as main functional components has been developed. The production technology is simple and the process is safe. The lycopene soft capsule developed on the basis of the extraction of lycopene has obtained the license issued by the Food Hygiene Licensing Authority of Gansu province. And the batch production has realized. The project has extended the tomato industry chain and is significant for the industrialization of lycopene.

The preparation technology of swainsonine and lycopene has not only realized the utilization of waste, the transformation of resource advantages into economic advantages, but laid the technical foundation for the development of new anticancer drugs and green health food. It will also play an important role in the ecological environment protection, deep processing of agricultural products, extension of the industrial chain, increasing of the added value of products in the western part of China.