title: Antibacterial activity of crinitol and its potentiation.
abstract: An acyclic diterpene alcohol, crinitol [1], was identified in a marine brown alga, Sargassum tortile, as the principal antibacterial agent against Gram-positive bacteria, among which Propionibacterium acnes was most sensitive and, Staphylococcus aureus was least. To enhance its activity, crinitol was combined with several antioxidants, which presumably retard oxidative destruction of this molecule which possesses two easily oxidizable allylic alcohol groups. Two synthetic antioxidants, BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole) and BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene), significantly enhanced the activity of crinitol, especially against Streptococcus mutans. Interestingly, crinitol also synergized BHT and BHA against this cariogenic bacterium.
authors.affiliation: Division of Entomology and Parasitology, College of Natural Resources, University of California, Berkeley 94720.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kubo
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Himejima
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tsujimoto
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Muroi
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole / Q000494:pharmacology; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene / Q000494:pharmacology; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects; D007564:Japan; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010946:Plants, Medicinal / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D002084:Butylated Hydroxytoluene; D002083:Butylated Hydroxyanisole; C076600:crinitol