Antibacterial Action of Phenanthrene-related Substances

The Ability of Soil Microorganisms to Decompose Steroids

“…Because of inhibitory properties of bile acids and antibacterial effects of cholesterol, ergosterol, and certain of their derivatives (Raab, 1946;Squire and Squire, 1948), it was thought that this might be a significant factor in the enrichment medium. However, toxicity tests (table 2 together with other data not reported here) revealed that cholesterol, cholesteryl acetate, and cholesteryl palmitate were not inimical to the growth of a wide variety of bacteria, actinomycetes, and fungi.…”

Researches on the Microbiological Degradation of Sterols

“…Some authors even believe that cholesterol may possess antibacterial activity. In fact, according to Raab (1946), cholesterol, ergosterol and vitamin D, having in common the phenanthrene nucleus, have also in common some antibacterial activity capable of preventing in vivo the multiplication of Mycobacterium and in vitro the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (Micrococcus pyogenes var. aureus).…”