Thin-Layer Chromatographic Separation and Quantitation of the Anti-Tumor Agent Daunorubicin in Fermentation Media

Abstract

Daunorubicin (1,2), an antibiotic produced by the microorganism Streptomyces penceticus, can be used in the treatment of both acute leukemia and solid tumors in human (3). Extensive clinical trails of this compound are being conducted by the National Cancer Institute. Production of daunorubicin by fermentation and its isolation from fermentation broth has been described elsewhere (4). In the course of producing sufficient daunorubicin for clinical trails, the Chemotherapy Fermentation Laboratory of the Frederick Cancer Research Center required a fast quantitative assay for daunorubicin in fermentation broth. This paper describes a one-dimensional thin-layer chromatographic system for the separation of daunorubicin and its in situ quantitation by densitometry.