Nature of the Action of Emetine upon Entamæba histolytica

Abstract

THE fact that emetine exerts a powerful toxic action upon E. histolytica, in vivo and in vitro, has long been established^1,2. The mechanism of this action, however, is far from clear³. Furthermore, the end-point of toxicity of emetine to E. histolytica is variable in vitro, depending upon such factors as the nature and reaction of the medium, time of observation, and composition of the bacterial flora which necessarily accompanies the growth of the amæba in culture^2,4.