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

Abstract
Daunorubicin, an antibiotic produced by the microorganism Streptomyces penceticus, can be used in the treatment of both acute leukemia and solid tumors in human. In the course of producing sufficient daunorubicin by fermentation for clinical trials, a fast quantitative assay for daunorubicin in fermentation broth was required. This paper describes a one-dimensional TLC system for the separation of daunorubicin and its in situ quantitation by densitometry.