Antibacterial Substances from Plants Collected in Indiana

Abstract

The possibility that naturally occurring compounds showing pronounced antibiotic activity may be discovered in common plants offers an intriguing possibility for economical production of substances of interest and importance. During the summer of 1944 it was possible to collect and test substances from a number of plants in Indiana. It is the purpose of this report to give the details of this preliminary survey. Osborn (1943) reported the results of examination of 2,300 samples from English plants and concluded that members of the Ranunculaceae offered most promise. Pederson and Fisher (1944) studied substances, in the juice of cabbage and other vegetables, which were active against gram-negative bacteria. Cavallito and Bailey (1944) demonstrated cysteine inactivation of active principles of various plant species. Lucas and Lewis (1944) reported preliminary results of a systematic survey of members of families of higher plants.