title: Effects of alkyl parabens on plant pathogenic fungi.
abstract: Alkyl parabens are used as antimicrobial preservatives in cosmetics, food, and pharmaceutical products. However, the mode of action of these chemicals has not been assessed thoroughly. In this study, we determined the effects of alkyl parabens on plant pathogenic fungi. All the fungi tested, were susceptible to parabens. The effect of linear alkyl parabens on plant pathogenic fungi was related to the length of the alkyl chain. In addition, the antifungal activity was correlated with the paraben-induced inhibition of oxygen consumption. The antifungal activity of linear alkyl parabens likely originates, at least in part, from their ability to inhibit the membrane respiratory chain, especially mitochondrial complex II. Additionally, we determined that some alkyl parabens inhibit Alternaria brassicicola infection of cabbage.
authors: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
authors: Shinsaku
authors: S
authors: Ito
authors: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
authors: Satoru
authors: S
authors: Yazawa
authors: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
authors: Yasutaka
authors: Y
authors: Nakagawa
authors: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan.
authors: Yasuyuki
authors: Y
authors: Sasaki
authors: Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Bioscience, Tokyo University of Agriculture, 1-1-1 Sakuragaoka, Setagaya, Tokyo 156-8502, Japan. Electronic address: yshun@nodai.ac.jp.
authors: Shunsuke
authors: S
authors: Yajima
mesh_terms: D000528:Alternaria / Q000187:drug effects; D000935:Antifungal Agents / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001937:Brassica / Q000382:microbiology; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D005658:Fungi / Q000187:drug effects*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008928:Mitochondria / Q000378:metabolism; D010226:Parabens / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000935:Antifungal Agents; D010226:Parabens; D042963:Electron Transport Complex II
keywords: Black leaf spot disease; Drug design; Gallate; Mitochondrial complex II; Paraben; Structure–activity relationship study