Formobactin, a novel free radical scavenging and neuronal cell protecting substance from Nocardia sp

Formobactin, a new free radical scavenger, was isolated from the culture of Nocardia sp. strain ND20. The structure of formobactin was determined to be a member of the nocobactin group antibiotics. Formobactin inhibited lipid peroxidation in rat brain homogenate. Formobactin also showed the activity to suppress L-glutamate toxicity in neuronal hybridoma N18-RE-105 cells.