Isolation and sequence determination of tetrapeptide from Selaginella bryopteris

A simple and inexpensive paper chromatographic method was developed for the isolation of a small peptide from Selaginella bryopteris fronds. The content of peptides is low in most plants and the isolation and purification procedure is troublesome. This method may be used as a first step for the detection of small peptides in the plant extracts. De novo sequence determination by tandem mass spectrometry indicated that the peptide is a tetrapeptide.