Isolation, purification and properties of the hexaene macrolides candihexin I and candihexin II.

The hexaene macrolide candihexin produced by the mutant 18A2 of Streptomyces viridoflavus IMRU 3685 has been found to be a complex of two component fractions which we have named candihexins I and II. Extraction and purification methods have been developed for preparation of pure candihexin complex. Separation of the component fractions has been achieved by solvent fractionation and partition column chromatography. Candihexins I and II differ in solubility in organic solvents but have similar UV spectra. Candihexin I is active in vitro against yeasts and filamentous fungi with minimal inhibitory concentrations of l-6;!g!ml. Candihexin II is essentially inactive.