86 Journal of Medicinal Chemistry, 1971, Vol. 14, S o . 1
Book Reviews Amphetamines and Related Compounds. Edited by E. Cosra and S. GARATTINI.Raven Press, S e w York, X. T. 1970. xiii + 962 pp. 17 X 24 cm. 82S.30. Amphetamine was synthesized by Edeleaiiou iri 1887 but its sympat>homimeticand CNS motor activities did n o t become known unt.il 45 years later when Gordoii Blles studied its pharmacology as a molecular simplification of ephedrine. Nabeiihauer resolved it aiid made it possible to locate virtually all the activit,y (except, perhaps, in parkinsonism) i i i t,he cl enantiomer. Since then amphetamine has become a major drug, firmly e+ tahlished as a CNS stimulant,, an anorectic, and vasocoii agent. I t has become the prot,otype drug for such ac and thousands of congeners and analogs have been prepared and tested, and some of them have become important drugs in their owu righi,. Striict,iire-activity relationships have been recognized before, arid have been based on various parameters. The introductory chapter- of the present symposium volume (Xario Negri Institute, Ililan, 1YG8) sum up neatly these relationship:: from a medicinal-chemical and pharniacologic viewpoint. 11etaboliani as a factor in amphetamine activity has loomed large ever since the discovery of the e drugs. since steric hindrailre to oxidative enzymes is one of the r main well-recogiiized characteristics. There concepts have been refined and expaiided and are given a thorough discussion here. The mechanism of actioii ( i f the amphetaniiues which aflects c~ttecholami~iehio Atorage, release, and turnover, i > allotted 1 G O page>. amphetamines o n the biochemical causations of hehavior, cardiovascular changes, food intake, lipid metabolism, nlld erperirneiital htudie5 on the CKS are dealt with broadly. This i s followd by clinical studies on sleep and memory i i i the preheiice of lliehc drugs, and on the use of amphetamines iii the ti,e:iimerit of hyperkinetic children. This symposium took place appropriately wheii the ampliet:imines, and especially some methoxylated coiigeiier, apart from the editors: J. 13. Biel, -4. 11. Beckett, J. 1:. Boi-sicr, J. Axelrod, B. B. Brodie, A . Pletscher, F. Snlser, I,. Stein, J . 5 . Iihle, J . €1. Cavanaugh, P. Mairtegazza, L. Lasagii:i-tlie~e and many others have cooperated io produce a book that .hoiild become a st,andard o n the subject. Print and tvpography arc esceptionallg good. The indexes are more than adeqiiatc.
learn the theoretical and research background of his aclivitiea. The book is to be welcomed as a teaching device i i i methodology and a Yirong edncational contribution to the field.
The History of Penicillin Production. Edited by A. 1,. ELL)I.:IL American Institute of Chemical Engineers, New York, N. I-. vi 100 pp. 21.7 X 2s em. Paperback.
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As more rziid more “simple” therapeutic problems have been aolved, aiid only the “complicated” ones remaiii t o be done, pessimism has settled over the medicinal research commuiiity. The fundamental premises for many urgent new programs tire vlouded, pertinent tests that may carry over t o cliiiical conditiolis :we unknowi, and there are no reliable prototype drugs whir11 (mi be set up as standards. Those who feel their research aims rest, o n siich shaky fouiidatioii*, Ahould read the account of the development of penicillin from it.
