Viomycin is produced by inoculating a nutrient medium with a viable strain of
the organism Actinomyces vinaceus. A method for the production of viomycin
is set forth in US Patent 2,663,445 comprising inoculating a medium
containing soy peptone, beef extract, dextrose, sodium chloride and a silicone
antifoaming agent with a spore suspension of Actinomyces vinaceus and
incubating the inoculated medium for 120 hours at a temperature of 26°C
while passing sterile air through the medium at a rate of 500 ml per liter of
medium per minute.
Viocin crystallises from H2O/EtOH and is dried in a vacuum. The dry material is hygroscopic and should be stored dry. The UV has max at 268 and 285nm (log 4.4 and 4.2) in H2O. [Kitigawa et al. Chem Pharm Bull Jpn 20 2176 1972.] The hydrochloride forms hygroscopic plates with m 270o(dec), []18 -16.6o (c 1, H2O) with max at 268nm (log 4.5) in H2O; 268nm (log 4.4) in 0.1N HCl and at 285nm (log 4.3) in 0.1N NaOH. [Beilstein 26 III/IV 4245.]
