EXTRACTION AND PRELIMINARY CHARACTERIZATION OF A HEPATOTOXIC SUBSTANCE FROM CULTURES OF PENICILLIUM RUBRUM

Abstract

A toxic acidic substance was extracted from cultures of Penicillium rubrum P-13 grown on corn-sucrose medium. Administration to mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and dogs produced hepatotoxic and hemorrhagic syndromes. These findings were similar to those previously reported in which livestock were fed feedstuff infected with pure cultures of the fungus. Preliminary studies were made of the physical and chemical properties of the toxic material.