Stereo-isomeric dissociation of the antibacterial and the neuroleptic effect of clopenthixol.

Abstract

Measurement of the IC50 of cis(Z)-clopenthixol and trans(E)-clopenthixol on 188 bacterial strains from human clinical specimens shows that the antibacterial activity of clopenthixol is exerted by both isomerical components and trans(E)-clopenthixol is the most active antibiotic of the two drugs against the sensitive strains. It is known that the trans(E)-clopenthixol isomere is without neuroleptic effect. The possibility of creating new antibiotics by e.g. steric alteration of neuroleptical agents is stressed. These drugs have different antibiotic patterns from those of classical antibiotics. It seems particularly promising that Pseudomonas aeruginosa is sensitive to these drugs.