It wos previously found that isonicotinoyl-3-methoxy-4-hydroxybenzal hydrazone (No.254) markedly suppressed onset of murine leprosy and the effect was even greater than that of INAH. It was also found that the effect of isonicotinoyl-4-hydroxybenzal hydrazone, which lacks the-OCH
3 radical, was smaller than No. 254. It was therefore assumed that the-OCH3 radical may play an important role so studies were conducted with isonicotinoyl 3, 4-hydroxybenzal hydrazone (No. 282), which possesses two-OCH
3 radicals. The following was observed.
(1) The onset suppressing action of No. 282 is greater than that of INAH or No. 254.
(2) Most of the bacilli in the tissues of mice treated with No. 282 show degeneration and typical globi are rare.
(3) The ulcer of murine leprosy is cured by treatment with INAH but in most of the cases the leproma remains and acid-fast bacilli are still present. No. 254 and No. 282 however, have a moderately strong therapeutic effect on the leproma, especially No. 282.
(4) Oral administration of 5 mg daily of No. 282 results in apparent cure of the pathological changes and subcutaneous inoculation in healthy mice of an emulsion of tissue taken from the site of inoculatin does not give rise to infection.
(5) It is suggested that the-OCH
3 radical plays an important role in murine leprosy.
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