title: Effects of two terpene alcohols on the antibacterial activity and the mode of action of farnesol against Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: We have studied changes in the antibacterial activity and the mode of action of farnesol against Staphylococcus aureus when two terpene alcohols with an aliphatic carbon chain were added, individually, to a bacterial suspension that contained farnesol. Geraniol increased the growth-inhibitory activity of farnesol, but suppressed its ability to damage cell membranes, which is one of the predominant features of the growth-inhibitory activity of farnesol. Geranylgeraniol decreased the growth-inhibitory activity of farnesol and also suppressed its cell-damaging activity. It is possible that the presence of a terpene alcohol can both enhance and suppress the antibacterial activity of farnesol, and even change its mode of action. Thus, it is important to study not only the antibacterial activity of each constituent of an essential oil but also the interactions between them in efforts to characterize the antibacterial activity of the essential oil.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Bio-Medicinal Pharmacology, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, 194-8543 Tokyo, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoko
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Togashi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Inoue
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hamashima
authors.forename: Akihito
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Takano
mesh_terms: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects; D004224:Diterpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005204:Farnesol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development; D013729:Terpenes / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000080462:Acyclic Monoterpenes; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004224:Diterpenes; D013729:Terpenes; D005204:Farnesol; C017338:geranylgeraniol; C007836:geraniol; D011188:Potassium