UV-guided isolation of fungal metabolites by HSCCC

Analytical standardised reversed phase liquid chromatography (RPLC) data can be helpful in finding a suitable solvent combination for isolation of fungal metabolites by high-speed counter current chromatography. Analysis of the distribution coefficient (K-D) of fungal metabolites in a series of biphasic systems consisting of n-heptane-ethyl acetate (EtOAc)-methanol (MeOH)-water has been used to illustrate the relationship between the RPLC retention indexes and K-D's. The relationship can be used to select a suitable solvent combination for HSCCC, as demonstrated by the isolation of two new cyclic peptides from a crude fungal extract.