Terramycin, a New Antibiotic

Abstract

Terramycin has been isolated in crystalline form from broth cultures of a new actinomycete, Streptomyces rimosus. It is amphoteric, forming both the hydrochloride and the Na salt; the crystalline form varies with the crystallization procedure. Physical and chemical characteristics of the crystalline compound are listed in the article. Terramycin shows a low toxicity in animals, the intraven. LDo being 103 mg./kg. in mice, and the LD50, 192 mg./kg. The compound is active both in vivo and in vitro against a wide variety of bacterial forms, and preliminary studies indicate definite antirickettsial activity in the chick embryo. It is effective by both oral and parenteral routes of admn.