T h e aglycone of glucotropaeolin benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) of Carica papaya was studied for its antibiotic and pharmacological activity as well as its toxicity. It is very fast decomposed whilst incubating the powdered seeds, but does not yield the by-products benzyl thiocyanate (BTC) and benzyl nitrile (BCN) as Lepidiun~. In spite of the low concentration amozrnt of BlTC (compared with that obtained from Tropaeolum) the average concentration of G mglg wotrld be sufficient for therapeutic purposes. T o achieve maximal antibiotic effect it wotrld be necessary to use freshly crtrshed seeds. T h e antifungal activity indicates that they are of use for treatment of fungal skin diseases possibly in combination with synthetic drugs. T h e large number o f microorganisms sensitive to BITC would also suggests its possible use as a bacteriostatic and a bactericidal agent in cases of some intestinal and urinary infections. BlTC is also eliminated in urine between 3-9 hours after administration. T h e toxicity of the seed in our experiments is low and that at the usual therapecrtically effective single dose of 4-5 g of seeds (25-30 mg BITC) would not be harmful.

No abstract