[New heterocyclic derivatives of benzimidazole with germicidal activity. II. Mechanism of action of fluoro-5-(nitro-2'-furyl)-2-benzimidazole in B. subtilis and C. albicans].

Study of the microbiological activity of 5-fluoro-(2'-nitrofuryl)-2-benzimidazole F-O-NO2 (I) was continued. The substance was tested on cultures of B. subtilis and C. albicans. From the microbial strains studied, the mortality rate, the minimum inhibitory and bacterial concentrations and the cytotoxicity were determined. The action mechanism was studied using tritiated leucin, uracil and thymidine. Acute toxicity in the mouse (DL50 = 275 mg/kg) was also determined. The germicidal activity of (II), homologous N-ethyl derivative of (I), was also studied. On the basis of the results obtained, a possible mechanism of action of compound (I) is discussed.