ANTIBIOTICS OF ACTINOMYCETES 207 



groups, but it is not a polypeptide. Positive ninhydrine reaction. 



No guanidine groups. No typical ultraviolet absorption spectrum. The 



picrate, picrolonate and reineckate can be crystallized. 

 Biological activity: Active against gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria 



and mycobacteria. Limited activity against fungi. 

 Toxicity: LD 6 o (mice), intravenous, 65 mg/kg. 

 Utilization: Topical application for bacterial infections. Specially active in 



staphylococcic infections. Can be used systemically when other less 



toxic antibiotics are not active. 

 Reference: Decaris, L. J., Ann. Pharm. France, 9, 1953, 44; Tremblay, E. 



C, Destouches, P., and Karatchenzeff, N., Presse Med., 61, 1952, Feb. 



28; Lutz, C. R., Compt. Rend. Acad. Sci., 236, 1953, 157; Hagemann, 



G. R., Thesis, Univ. Paris, 1952. 



Grisein 



Produced by: Streptomyces griseus. 



Method of extraction: Adsorption on activated charcoal and elution with 95 



per cent ethanol followed by precipitation with methanol and acetone. 

 Chemical and physical properties: Soluble in water, slightly soluble in 95 per 



cent ethanol, insoluble in ethanol, ether, and acetone. Stable. Not 



inactivated by cysteine. Inactivated by iron. C4oH6iNi 2 oSFe. 

 Biological activity: Active against Escherichia coli, Micrococcus pyogenes 



var. aureus, Salmonellae and Shigellae. No activity against Pseudo- 



monas, Proteus, and Mycobacterium. Development of resistance rapid. 

 Toxicity: No reliable data available. 

 Utilization: None. 

 Reference: Reynolds, D. M., and Waksman, S. A., J. Bacterid., 55, 1948, 



739-752; Garson, W., and Waksman, S. A., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 



U.S., 84, 1948, 232-239. 



Griseoflavin 



Produced by: Streptomyces griseoflavus. 



Method of extraction: Adsorption on acid clay at pH 2.0, elution with 80 per 

 cent acetone at pH 7.0. Evaporation of acetone, aqueous solution ex- 

 tracted with ethyl acetate, evaporation to dryness. Brown powder dis- 

 solved in methanol, chromatography over aluminum oxide. Crys- 

 tallization from ethanol. 



Chemical and physical properties: Colorless crystals, m.p. 210-215°C (de- 

 composition). Soluble in methanol, ethanol, propanol, phenol, acetic 

 acid and alkaline water. Slightly soluble in water, ethyl acetate and 

 butyl acetate. Insoluble in ether, petroleum ether, benzene and chloro- 

 form. Negative biuret, ninhydrin, Sakaguchi, Molisch and FeCU tests. 



