Isolation of Sceletium alkaloids by high-speed countercurrent chromatography

The alkaloids of Sceletium tortuosum (Mesembryanthemaceae) exhibit important pharmacological properties and are used for the treatment of psychiatric and psychological conditions, including depression, anxiety, drug dependence, bulimia and obsessive-compulsive disorder. The all-liquid technique of high-speed countercurrent chromatography provides an excellent tool for the rapid isolation of these alkaloids in high yields.