Efficient, green, and rapid strategy for separating actinomycin D and X2 using supercritical fluid chromatography

Actinomycin D has long been used as a first-line antitumor drug in clinical practice. Actinomycin X-2, a new drug lead, is often isolated along with actinomycin D. The minor differences between the two actinomycin analogs pose a daunting challenge in separation. In this study, supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) was successfully utilized for the purification of actinomycin X-2 and actinomycin D from a marine derived Streptomyces sp. DQS-5. After one-step SFC purification, the purities of these two compounds were determined to be 97.3 % and 97.8 %, respectively. This method provides a green alternative for the separation of these pharmacologically important actinomycin antibiotics. This study also demonstrated the development of a simple and rapid method for the separation of natural products based on SFC. (C) 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study successfully utilized supercritical fluid chromatography (SFC) for the purification of Actinomycin X-2 and actinomycin D from a marine derived Streptomyces sp. DQS-5, providing a green alternative for their separation. The study also demonstrated the development of a simple and rapid method for the separation of natural products based on SFC.