Isolation of brefeldin A from Eupenicillium brefeldianum broth using macroporous resin adsorption chromatography

Brefeldin A (BFA) is a macrolide lactone antibiotic, possessing antitumor, antiviral, antifungal activities. In this work, a separation strategy involving one-step macroporous resin adsorption chromatography combined with crystallization was established for BFA purification from Eupenicillium brefeldianum CCTCC M 208113 fermentation broth. Among six macroporous resin adsorbents tested, the non-polar resin HZ830 had the best adsorption and desorption performance. The static equilibrium adsorption data fitted well with the Freundlich equation, and the adsorption kinetic followed the pseudo-second order model. Through experimental optimization of column adsorption and desorption, BFA in purity of 90.4% (w/w), 92.1% (w/w) yield was obtained by a one-step macroporous resin adsorption chromatography, using a stepwise elution protocol. Furthermore, high purity (>99%, w/w) of BFA crystals were prepared from E. brefeldianum CCTCC M 208113 fermentation broth in an overall recovery of 67.0% (w/w), using a combination of adsorption chromatography packed with non-polar macroporous adsorbent HZ830 and crystallization in acetone.

► One step isolation of brefeldin A from broth with macroporous resin is developed.
► The static equilibrium adsorption data of brefeldin A fits the Freundlich model.
► One-step column chromatography recovers 92.1% of brefeldin A in a purity of 90.4% from fermentation broth.
► A combination of adsorption chromatography and crystallization produces brefeldin A with purity of >99%.