The in vitro effect of analogs of vitamin K on Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis, strain H37Rv.

Phthiocol, the pigment isolated from Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis, strain H37, by Anderson and Newman (1933a), has a structural formula identical with that of vitamin K, except for the substitution of a hydroxyl group for the phytyl radical on its third carbon. The synthesis of this antihemorrhagic vitamin by Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis was noted in animal experiments by Almquist, Pentler, and Necchi (1938). In the following year Almquist and Klose (1939a) tested the activity of pure synthetic phthiocol and showed that its properties were generally similar to those of vitamin K. The same authors, evaluating other synthetic and natural antihemorrhagic compounds (1939b), stated that the activity nucleus of each was 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone, and that they differed from phthiocol by the absence of a hydroxyl group on the third carbon. Because compounds with this activity nucleus are chemically related to phthiocol, an investigation of the in vitro effect of analogs of vitamin K on Mycobacterium tuberculosis var. hominis, strain H37Rv, was undertaken.