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Antibacterial Action of Curcumin and Related Compounds

Nature volume 164, pages 456–457 (1949)Cite this article

Abstract

INVESTIGATIONS by A. R. Todd1, H. Rinderknecht2, W. B. Geiger3 and others have shown that many unsaturated ketones with the grouping —C = C—CO—, also present in a number of naturally occurring antibiotics, possess antibacterial action. In our studies on unsaturated ketones, we found that chalkone, flavanone, flavone and some of their derivatives, for example, buteine (2,4,3',4'-tetrahydroxychalkone). a substance of vegetable origin, showed a marked inhibition of the growth of Staph. aureus. Also extracts of plants containing flavanones, flavones or flavonoles were found to be bacteriostatic4. Furthermore, we have prepared a number of synthetic chalkones of which some compounds suppressed the growth at high dilutions.

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References

  1. Marrian, D. H., Russell, P. B., and Todd, A. R., J. Chem. Soc., 1419 (1947).

  2. Rinderknecht, H., Ward, J. L., Bergel, F., and Morrison, A. L., Biochem. J., 41, 463 (1947).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of R. Pfleger, University of Erlangen,

    E. SCHRAUFSTÄTTER & H. BERNT

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  1. E. SCHRAUFSTÄTTER
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  2. H. BERNT
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SCHRAUFSTÄTTER, E., BERNT, H. Antibacterial Action of Curcumin and Related Compounds. Nature 164, 456–457 (1949). https://doi.org/10.1038/164456a0

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