Fungistatic Activity of some Hydroxamic Acids

IT was found by two of us1that salicylhydroxamic acid completely inhibits growth of some pathogenic fungi (Trichophyton schoenleinii, T. gypseum, T. rubrum, T. violaceum) in vitro at a concentration of 0.025–0.1 per cent (0.25–1.0 mgm. per 1 ml.). A similar effect was produced by benzohydroxamic acid and 2-hydroxy-3-naphthydroxamic acid2. It was interesting to find that 5-bromosalicylhydroxamic acid (‘T 40’)3(which has now found clinical application in Poland as an auxiliary remedy in treating tuberculosis in addition to ‘INH’4) possesses a very low fungistatic activity.