In the present study, the performance and separation characteristics on the column packed with MCl gel, D101 macroporous resin and ODS for the enrichment and separation of oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins with 3, 28-O-bidesmosides (OTSB) and oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins with 3-O-monoglucosides (OTSM) from the n-BuOH-soluble portion of Gypsophila pacifica Kom. extracts (GPE) have been evaluated. As a result, MCl gel not only showed the best separation efficiency of OTSB and OTSM, but also offered higher adsorption capacities, desorption capacities, and desorption ratios for oleanane-type triterpenoid saponins (OTS) than those of D101 macroporous resin and ODS. For further research, MCl gel was used to perform dynamic desorption tests to optimize the separation process of OTSB and OTSM from the n-BuOH-soluble portion of GPE. After the treatment with gradient elution on MCl gel, the OTSB and OTSM were separated successfully with 70% and 90% aqueous methanol solution (v/v), respectively. The contents of OTSB and OTSM were increased from 24.6% and 5.3% in the n-BuOH-soluble portion of GPE to 89.4% and 85.4% in the final products, respectively, and the recovery yield was 95.3%. The results indicated that MCl gel revealed a good ability to enrich and separate OTSB and OTSM, and could be referenced for the enrichment and separation of the OTS from herbal raw materials. (c) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.