THE CHEMOTHERAPEUTIC PROPERTIES OF 5-NITRO-2-FURALDEHYDE SEMICARBAZONE (FURACIN)

¹ Research Department of the Eaton Laboratories, Norwich, New York

1. 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone was shown to exert antibacterial action in vitro on a variety of Gram positive and Gram negative species of bacteria, also upon M. tuberculosis.

2. The LD50 of the compound following oral administration to mice was determined on seven samples. It was also found that the chief symptom of toxicity from either oral or parenteral use in rats and mice was hyperirritability.

3. Lethal doses of the compound produced no definite histopathology when fed to mice and rats, but subcutaneous injections of large doses produced marked changes in the structure of the liver and kidneys.

4. 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone was effective by oral administration in protecting mice infected with Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus hemolyticus, Salmonella schottmülleri and Salmonella aertrycke. It was ineffective against pneumococcus infections.

5. The size of the infecting inoculum was shown to affect the survival rate obtained, especially with Gram negative species.

6. Single oral doses of the compound had a marked therapeutic effect on infections with Trypanosoma equiperdum.

7. The compound was not effective in the therapy of infections in rats with Spirocheta novyi. Preliminary experiments showed the compound to be active in vitro on Treponema pallidum and the dark-field findings and course of scrotal lesions in rabbits infected with this organism were modified.

8. The subcutaneous injection of 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone also protected mice infected with Streptococcus hemolyticus and Trypanosoma equipercum..

9. 5-nitro-2-furaldehyde semicarbazone was also effective in the therapy of mice infected with Streptococcus hemolyticus when fed as a part of the daily ration.