title: Antimicrobial activity of isothiocyanates from cruciferous plants against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
abstract: Purified isothiocyanates from cruciferous plants (Brassicacea, Syn. Cruciferae) plants were evaluated against 15 isolates of methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolated from diabetic foot-ulcer patients aiming the study of the potential usage of allyl-isothiocyanate, benzyl-isothiocyanate and 2-phenylethyl-isothiocyanate against this important bacteria. Disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration methods were used to access the antimicrobial activity. The index (Ia) and rate (Ra) of the antibacterial activity for each compound were calculated. The results showed a highly dose-dependent compound and chemical structure antibacterial effectiveness. The results showed a strong relation between the chemical structure of isothiocyanates and its antibacterial effectiveness. The benzyl-isothiocyanate was the most effective with a minimum inhibitory concentration varying between 2.9 and 110 µg·mL(-1) with an antibacterial activity rate up to 87%. Moreover, their antibacterial activity was mainly bactericidal. This study provides scientific evidence that isothiocyanates have an interesting biological value and must be considered as an important tool to be used against MRSA.
authors.affiliation: Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, CECAV, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real 5000801, Portugal. cdias@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dias
authors.affiliation: Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environmental and Biological Sciences, CITAB, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real 5000801, Portugal. alfredoa@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Alfredo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Aires
authors.affiliation: Animal and Veterinary Research Centre, CECAV, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, UTAD, Quinta de Prados, Vila Real 5000801, Portugal. saavedra@utad.pt.
authors.forename: Maria José
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Saavedra
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019607:Brassicaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D052978:Disk Diffusion Antimicrobial Tests; D006801:Humans; D017879:Isothiocyanates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D017879:Isothiocyanates; D010936:Plant Extracts