CE and SDS-PAGE fingerprint analysis and identification of several fermentation products obtained by the Candida and Penicillium species used for homeopathic starting materials

Fermentation cultures of Candida albicans (strain DSMZ 4884), C. parapsilosis (strain DSMZ 5197), Penicillium brevicompactum (strain DSMZ 3961), P. chrysogenum (strain DSMZ 5753), P. glabrum (strain DSMZ 5752) and P. roquefortii (strain DSMZ 5504) are prepared using various purification steps and cell mill treatment as well as sterilization and lyophilisation procedures to produce water-soluble substances [1–6]. Homeopathic (isopathic) dilutions of these starting materials are used as drug products in various European countries under the trade names of Albicansan, Pefrakehl, Stolonikehl, Notakehl, Quentakehl, Fortakehl and Exmykehl. The identification of the drug substances are performed by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and capillary electrophoresis (CE) producing characteristic fingerprints. The SDS-PAGE analysis shows substance-specific bands with the following relative molecule masses (Mr). The signals obtained by CE and detection at 260nm show fingerprint electropherograms that are specific for every substance preparation, making it possible to identify each individual cultured strain. Molecule Masses from extracts of Candida and Peniciliium species

Table 1

Candida sp.	Mr [kDa]
Penicillium sp.	>100	100–90	90–80	80–70	70–60	60–50	50–40	40–30	30–20	<20
C. albicans			85	77				37/34	26	16
C. parapsilosis	118			78			41	37	28
P. brevicompactum						59		34	27/25
P. chrysogenum				76					24	16
P. glabrum		96				57	41		24
P. roquefortii					67		50	38	24

References: 1. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2009) „Candida albicans e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.

2. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2009) „Candida parapsilosis e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.

3. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2010) „Penicillium brevicompactum e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.

4. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2009) „Penicillium chrysogenum e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.

5. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2009) „Penicillium glabrum e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.

6. German Homeopathic Pharmacopoeia (HAB) draft monograph (2009) „Penicillium roquefortii e volumine cellulae (lyophil., steril.)“.