Monensin was found in the mycelium of Streptomyces cinnamonensis by Eli Lilly & Co. in 1967 in the course of screening for anticoccidial and growth-promoting substances for cattle, swine, and chickens. It shows antiprotozoal, antibacterial, and antifungal activities, as well as anticoccidial activity. Monensin is widely used to treat such infections and as a feed additive to promote the growth of livestock.
Monensin A is a polyether antibiotic first isolated from Streptomyces cinnamonensis in 1967. Monensin A is a broad-spectrum anticoccicidial antibiotic, also exhibiting antifungal and antiviral activity. Monensin A forms complexes with monovalent cations such as Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, Ag+ and Tl+ and is thus able to transport these cations across lipid membranes of cells, playing an important role as an Na+/H+ antiporter. It blocks intracellular protein transport and is used in animals to prevent coccidiosis, promote growth and prevent bloat. Derivatives of monensin, monensin methyl ester and particularly monensin decyl ester, are used in ion selective electrodes.
Poliether antibiotic. Coccidiostat
Monensin (2) C36H62O11, a carboxylic acid which is used as its water-soluble sodium salt (Coban, Rumensin). Monensin is also used to treat histomoniasis. The polyether ionophoric antibiotics are capable of complexing and interfacing with specific alkali metal cations to render them lipid-soluble and diffusible across parasite mitochondrial membranes. Related useful polyether antibiotics are narasin and lasalocid (3, Lasalocid A, C34H54O8,).
ChEBI: Monensin A is a spiroketal, monensin A is the major component of monensin, a mixture of antibiotic substances produced by Streptomyces cinnamonensis. An antiprotozoal, it is used as the sodium salt as a feed additive for the prevention of coccidiosis in poultry and as a growth promoter in cattle. It has a role as a coccidiostat, an antifungal agent and an ionophore. It is a monocarboxylic acid, a cyclic hemiketal, a spiroketal and a polyether antibiotic.
Coban [as sodium salt] (Lilly);Rumensin [as sodium salt] (Lilly).
Poison by ingestion and
intraperitoneal routes. An eye and skin
irritant. When heated to decomposition it
emits acrid smoke and irritating fumes.
