580 



5. QUINONES 



quinonoid forms are particularly effective (Table 5-12). The imra are 

 more selective than the ortho isomers. Phenol is ineffective and the addi- 

 tion of most groups does not create virustatic agents, but the addition of 

 a hydroxy or amino group in the proper position brings out an interesting 

 and perhaps useful specificity. p-Aminophenol and toluhydroquinone act 

 on the virus only outside the cells, while the rest seem to penetrate into 



Table 5-12 



Effects of Hydroquinonbs and Aminophenols on Poliomyelitis Virus 

 IN Tissue Culture 



" Highest concentration tested. 

 '' Lowest concentration tested. 



the cells and act there. That all of these compounds may not be acting by 

 the same mechanism, or on the same site, is indicated by the fact that 

 glutathione antagonizes toluhydroquinone, cysteine antagonizes phenyl-p- 

 benzohydroquinone, and various amino acids (serine, threonine, and hy- 

 droxyproline) antagonize p-benzohydroquinone and p-aminophenol. It is 

 surprising that a substance such as j^-benzohydroquinone or toluhydro- 

 quinone can be so selective on virus proliferation, and so little damaging 

 to the host cells. 



DISTRIBUTION AND METABOLISM 



As with any aspect of the quinones, it is difficult to present a unified 

 picture inasmuch as there are several basic types of quinone and they are 



