PHARMACOLOGICAL ACTIONS OF ACRIDINE DERIVATIVES, WITH ESPECIAL REFERENCE TO THOSE OF ACRIFLAVINE AND ATEBRIN

¹ Department of Pharmacology, Edinburgh University

1. Acriflavine in bacteriostatic concentrations produces no toxic effects on the isolated frog's heart, and indeed prolongs rather than shortens the survival period.

2. Out of seventeen acridine compounds tested on the isolated frog's auricle, only one, a chloro compound, was markedly toxic.

3. The majority of the acridine compounds tested antagonised acetyl choline. Some compounds (e.g.acriflavine and atebrin) showed this action with frog's tissues and mammalian tissues. Other compounds (e.g. 2-amino-acridine monohydrochloride) only showed this action with frog's tissues.

4. No obvious relation could be shown between chemical structure and pharmacological action.

Note:

The author desires to tender his most heartfelt gratitude to Professor A. J. Clark for all the kindly and valuable assistance which he has proffered during the course of this research; also he is indebted to Dr. Jaime Raventos for many useful hints in the matter of refinement of technique. To Dr. Linnell of the Pharmaceutical Society of London the author tenders his grateful thanks for the samples of acridine compounds prepared in Dr. Linnell's laboratory. Lastly, the author is indebted to Mr. N. E. Condon for his valuable assistance in modifying and improving the periodic stimulation apparatus devised by Prasad.