Antibacterial activity of phenyl isothiocyanate on Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2013

Authors

Anabela Borges (Author) FEUP; Ana Cristina Abreu (Author) FEUP; Lúcia Chaves Simões (Author) FEUP; Maria José Saavedra (Author) Other; Manuel Simões (Author) FEUP

Journal

Title: Medicinal Chemistry

Vol. 9 No. 5

Pages: 756-761

ISSN: 1573-4064

Publisher: Bentham

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 32 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Medical and Health sciences > Basic medicine

Associated Projects

Bioresist - Estudo da influência do fenótipo de biofilmes na sua resiliência e resistência

Fitodesinfetantes - Desinfeção de bactérias planctónicas e biofilmes em ambientes hospitalares com produtos fitoquímicos

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-004-ZQQ

DOI: 10.2174/1573406411309050016

Abstract (EN): The present study has been aimed to assess the antibacterial effects of the glucosinolate hydrolysis product phenyl isothiocyanate (PITC) against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Aspects on the antibacterial mode of action of PITC have also been characterized, such as the changes on surface physicochemical characteristics and membrane damage. The minimum inhibitory concentration of PITC was 1000 g/mL, for both bacteria. The antimicrobial potential of PITC was compared with selected antibiotics (ciprofloxacin, erythromycin, streptomycin, tetracycline and spectinomycin), that reported a moderate effect. The combination of PITC with ciprofloxacin and erythromycin against S. aureus exhibited a good antimicrobial efficacy, due to an additive effect (the diameter of inhibition zones increased from 30 to 40 mm for ciprofloxacin and almost the double for erythromycin). The other combinations reported unsatisfactory results against both bacteria. The study of the physiological changes induced by PITC action demonstrated the interaction between the electrophilic compound and the bacterial cells at several points that causes changes in membrane properties (decreases negative surface charge, increases surface hydrophilicity and electron donor characteristics). PITC was also found to disturb membrane function, as manifested by phenomena such as cellular disruption and loss of membrane integrity, triggering cell death.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 6