Antibacterial activity of phenolic compounds and aromatic alcohols.
The antibacterial properties of phenolic compounds and aromatic alcohols (growth inhibition, lethal effect and cytological damage) were investigated. The role of protein and RNA synthesis in the bactericidal action was also determined. All compounds tested demonstrated lethal properties and the ability to alter membranes, especially in Gram-negative bacteria. Efficacious concentrations, however, varied greatly among the compounds. These data corroborate previous findings which suggest that the mechanism of action of these compounds is related to their lipophilia. Moreover, since it was demonstrated that the lethal effect of two aromatic alcohols (phenethyl alcohol and benzyl alcohol) stops when protein synthesis is inhibited, it is likely that both possess specific mechanisms of action.
Laboratoire de Microbiologie, Hygiène Microbienne, Immunologie, Faculté de Pharmacie, Marseille, France.
J J
JJ
Lucchini
J
J
Corre
A
A
Cremieux
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001593:Benzyl Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004755:Enterobacteriaceae / Q000187:drug effects; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D000431:Ethanol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001592:Benzyl Alcohols; D001593:Benzyl Compounds; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D010636:Phenols; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D013729:Terpenes; D000431:Ethanol; C005398:phenoxyethanol; D019905:Benzyl Alcohol; D010626:Phenylethyl Alcohol