title: Characterization of the bactericidal activity of the natural diterpene kaurenoic acid.
abstract: Kaurenoic acid is a diterpene with selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The compound is bacteriolytic for Bacillus cereus. This activity was only partially affected by the composition and pH of the culture medium. Loss of the ability to retain the Gram stain and morphological alterations were produced in B. cereus cells exposed to kaurenoic acid. On the other hand, LPS mutants of Salmonella typhi were resistant to the compound, but spheroplasts of Escherichia coli became more sensitive to kaurenoic acid.
authors.forename: Marcela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkens
authors.forename: Carolina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alarcón
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Urzúa
authors.forename: Leonora
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Mendoza
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019659:Asteraceae; D001409:Bacillus cereus / Q000187:drug effects; D001419:Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects*; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004926:Escherichia coli / Q000187:drug effects; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D012485:Salmonella typhi / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D010936:Plant Extracts; C051436:kaurenoic acid