218 THE ANTIBIOTICS 



Nocardianin 



Produced by: Nocardia sp. 



Method of extraction: By ether, chromatography on an alumina column, 

 elution with a 50 per cent mixture of chloroform and ethanol. Recrys- 

 tallization from methanol. 



Chemical and physical properties: Red prisms, m.p. 228-235°C (decomposi- 

 tion), [a]l 5 —223°. Soluble in chloroform, glacial acetic acid, pyridine; 

 moderately soluble in acetone, methanol; slightly soluble in water 

 and ether ; insoluble in petroleum ether, carbon disulfide, carbon tetra- 

 chloride. Molecular weight 1386. No amino acids by acid hydrolysis. 

 Absorption spectrum in methanol: minimum 330 nut and maximum 

 440 rn.fi. Unstable. CeeHiooOiBNis. 



Biological activity: Active against gram-positive bacteria ; not active against 

 gram-negative bacteria and mycobacteria. 



Toxicity: Unknown. 



Utilization: None. 



Reference: Bick, I. R., Jann, G. J., and Cram, D. J., Antibiotics & Chemo- 

 therapy, 2, 1952, 255-258. 



Nocardin 



Produced by: Nocardia coeliaca. 



Method of extraction: Extraction of the mycelium with mixture of ether and 

 95 per cent alcohol or adsorption from the culture filtrate on charcoal 

 and elution with acid alcohol or a mixture of ether and 95 per cent 

 alcohol. 



Chemical and physical properties: Crude nocardin is thermostable and 

 water-soluble. 



Biological activity: Active in vivo and in vitro against Mycobacterium tuber- 

 culosis. In mice 25 mg of crude nocardin has about the same activity 

 as 1.5 mg of streptomycin. The filtrates of N. coeliaca was also active 

 in vitro against Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus and Bacillus anthra- 

 cis and to a lesser extent against Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli. 



Toxicity: 25 mg of crude nocardin much more toxic than 1.5 mg of strep- 

 tomycin. 



Utilization: Probably none. 



Reference: Emmart, E. W., Kissling, R. E., and Stark, T. H., J. Bacterid., 

 57, 1949, 509-514; Levaditi, C, and Henry, J., Produits Pharm., 4, 

 1949, 11-14. 



Nystatin 



Produced by: Streptomyces noursei. 



Synonym: Fungicidin (closely related to antimycoin). 



