Nonactin, as a radical-producing antibiotic, was isolated from the cultural broth of the strain JM-4151. This strain was identified as Streptomyces viridochromogenes and designated S. viridochromogenes JM-4151. The antibacterial activity of nonactin against Bacillus subtilis was antagonized by the activity opf quercetin, an oxygen radical scavenger. This result suggests that oxygen radical formation might be the cause for the antibacterial activity of nonactin.