STUDIES ON ERYTHROMYCIN MELIBIONATE - NEW WATER-SOLUBLE SALT OF ERYTHROMYCIN

A new water soluble salt of erythromycin, erythromycin melibionate was prepared and some physicochemical and biological properties of the sa lt was studied. The salt was found to be soluble in water as well as i n various organic solvents and was partitioned well in different organ ic solvent - water systems. The potency of the new salt determined by microbiological assay was found to be 560, mcg/mg. The in vitro antimi crobial spectrum of the new salt was similar to that of the erythromyc in base. The LD(50) values of the new salt in mice through i.p. route was found to be 632.7 mg/kg. The results of the investigation indicate that the water soluble new salt erythromycin melibionate may be utili sed for clinical application.