Dr. Percy Julian, Pioneering Chemist

Dr. Percy Julian was a pioneering research chemist and pioneer in the chemical synthesis of medicinal drugs from plants. He completed the first total synthesis of a chemical called physostigmine, which was used to treat glaucoma. He also discovered how to extract steroids from soybean oil and synthesize the hormones progesterone and testosterone from them, and then synthesized cortisone, which was used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. In addition, he invented Aero-Foam, which was widely used during World War II to put out oil and gas fires.

In 1973, Dr. Julian became the first Black chemist elected to the National Academy of Sciences, and the American Chemical Society recognizes his synthesis of physostigmine as “one of the top 25 greatest achievements in the history of American chemistry.”

Source: Black Innovators in STEM Who Changed the World (osc.org)