Abstract: A process is described for the isolation, recovery and purification of non-polar extractives using one or more extracting solvents from the group of lower alcohols, ketones, and water. The non-polar extractives may include one or more of the classes alk(en)lyresorcinols, steroid, triterpenoid and cardiac glycosides and saponins, steryl ferulates and other phenolic acid conjugates, flavoroids, polar lipids, alcohol-soluble antimicrobials, prolamines and other alcohol-soluble proteolipids complexes. The process uses an aliphatic-substituted polysaccharide gel matrix in a process of hydrophobic interaction chromatography, and involves the steps of absorption, washing and recovery, wherein the extractives are absorbed and desorbed in the presence of and as a result of the concentration and selection of the organic ste of regenerating the gel matrix for further use.