Organic solvent extraction associated with HPLC in the preparation of hemorphins from bovine hemoglobin peptic hydrolysate.

Hemorphins extraction by organic solvents from a hemoglobin peptic hydrolysate was investigated. About thirteen solvents were used and only the aliphatic alcohols displayed selectivity for hemorphins. The resulting extracted phases, analyzed by SE-HPLC, RP-HPLC, and mass spectrometry, proved 1-butanol and 2-butanol to be the best extracting solvents towards hemorphins. The opioid activity test was carried out following each step of extraction and the obtained results were in agreement with a purification.