On the Poisonous Action of Quinone. 



BY 



T. Furuta. 



Numerous phenol derivatives have been tested for poisonous 

 properties, but the ordinary quinone has been almost wholly 

 neglected in this regard, although it is of some physiological 

 interest. Beijerinck has recently shown that Streptothrix 

 chromogena, a soil fungus, has the remarkable property of 

 producing quinone from proteids. 1 This author is even inclined 

 to ascribe the process of the formation of humus in the soil 

 largely to the quinone produced by this fungus. 



Quite recently Phisalix has observed a peculiar poison in 

 the secretion of a certain myriapod which he and B'eJial after- 

 wards identified as quinone. 



Since quinone is a labile di-ketone it appeared to me of 

 particular interest to ascertain whether it is a general poison, 

 and to compare it with related compounds. As subjects, served 

 shoots, twigs, isolated leaves, algae, mould fungi, bacteria, 

 insects, tadpoles and mice. 



Experiments with Shoots. 



i. Young plants of the soy bean 12 — 14 cm. high were 

 placed in \% solutions of quinone, hydroquinone, resorcin, 

 pyrogallol and phloroglucin. The roots in quinone showed first, 

 after a few hours, a decided injury and discoloration and it 

 took only four days to kill the entire shoots, while it took eight 

 days with hydroquinone, seventeen with pyrogallol, and twenty 

 with phloroglucin. The control plants were still alive. Phloro- 

 glucin is trioxybenzene, but it is considered by some authors as 

 a tri-ketone. Nevertheless one would expect that such a tri- 

 ketone would prove about as strong a poison as quinone. 



1 Central-Blatt f. Bakt. (II. Abt.) VI. 1900. 



