Antibacterial activity of akyl gallates against Bacillus subtilis

The antibacterial activity of a series of alkyl gallates (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoates) against Gram-positive bacteria was tested using a broth dilution method. All of the Gram-positive bacteria tested were susceptible to alkyl gallates, and this activity was found to correlate with the alkyl chain length. The antibacterial activity of alkyl gallates against Bacillus subtilis was a parabolic function of their lipophilicity and maximized with alkyl chain length between C(8) and C(11). Notably, alkyl gallates were found to be bactericidal against B. subtilis ATCC 9372, but this activity was significantly affected by the endospore formation in the culture. The antibacterial activity of alkyl gallates likely comes at least in part from their ability to inhibit the membrane respiratory chain but is not due to the prooxidant action.     

Chain length effects in isoflavonoid daidzein alkoxy derivatives as antioxidants: a quantum mechanical approach

Daidzein, an isoflavonoid with known prooxidative effects in heterogeneous lipid/water systems, changes to an antioxidant for 7-n-alkoxy derivatives of daidzein. For an alkyl length increasing from 4 to 8, 12, and 16 carbons, the oxidation potential decreases gradually from 1.09 V (vs NHE) for daidzein (D) to 0.94 V for D16 in tetrahydrofuran as determined by cyclic voltammetry at 25 °C. The prooxidative effects transform into antioxidative effects from D8 with a maximal effect for D12 for aqueous phase initiation of lipid oxidation in liposomes despite a gradual decrease in Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) with increasing alkyl chain length. Quantum mechanical calculations using density functional theory (DFT) showed that the bond dissociation energy of the O-H bond of the 4'-phenol is constant along the homologue series in contrast to Δμ, the change in dipole moment upon hydrogen atom donation, which increases for increasing chain length. The frontier orbital energy gap goes through a maximum for D12. The change in the A-to-B dihedral angle upon hydrogen atom donation further shows a maximum for D12 of 6.45°. The importance of these microscopic properties for antioxidative activity was confirmed by a change in liposome fluorescence anisotropy using a fluorescent probe showing maximal penetration into the lipid bilayer for D12 along the homologue series.     

Phytotoxic and antimicrobial activities of catechin derivatives

(+/-)-Catechin is a potent phytotoxin, with the phytotoxicity due entirely to the (-)-catechin enantiomer. (+)-Catechin, but not the (-)-enantiomer, has antibacterial and antifungal activities. Tetramethoxy, pentaacetoxy, and cyclic derivatives of (+/-)-catechin retained phytotoxicity. The results indicate that antioxidant properties of catechins are not a determining factor for phytotoxicity. A similar conclusion was reached for the antimicrobial properties. Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) exudes (+/-)-catechin from its roots, but the flavanol is not re-absorbed and hence the weed is not affected. The much less polar tetramethoxy derivative may, however, be absorbed and hence be able to cause toxicity. Because of the combination of phytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity, (+/-)-catechin could be a useful natural herbicide and antimicrobial.     

Antibacterial action of anacardic acids against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

The structural and antibacterial activity relationship of 6-alk(en)ylsalicylic acids, also known as anacardic acids, was investigated against Gram-positive bacteria, emphasizing the methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 33591 (MRSA) strain. The unsaturation in the alkyl side chain is not essential in eliciting activity but is associated with increasing the activity. The antibacterial activity of methicillin against MRSA strains was significantly enhanced in combination with C(12:0)-anacardic acid, and the fractional inhibitory concentration index for this combination was calculated as 0.281. It appears that biophysical disruption of the membrane (surfactant property) is due to the primary response to their antibacterial activity, while biochemical mechanisms are little involved. The compounds possessing the similar log P values exhibit similar activity.     

Competition between (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin in acetaldehyde-induced polymerization of flavanols.

The reactions of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin in the presence of acetaldehyde were studied in model solution systems. When incubated separately with acetaldehyde and at pH values varying from 2.2 to 4. 0, reactions were faster with (-)-epicatechin than with (+)-catechin. In mixtures containing both (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin with acetaldehyde, new compounds besides the homogeneous bridged derivatives were detected. These compounds were concluded to be hetero-oligomers consisting of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin linked with an ethyl bridge. In this case, the reaction of (-)-epicatechin was faster than that of (+)-catechin. This was also observed in solutions containing the two flavanols and the (+)-catechin-ethanol intermediate. Under these conditions, the homogeneous (+)-catechin bridged dimers and heterogeneous dimers were obtained by action of the intermediate on (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin, respectively. In addition, the homogeneous (-)-epicatechin ethyl-bridged dimers were also detected, showing that ethyl linkages underwent depolymerization and recombination reactions.     

Anti-Salmonella activity of alkyl gallates

A series of alkyl gallates (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoates) was synthesized and tested for their antibacterial activity against Salmonella choleraesuis. Nonyl (C(9)) and octyl (C(8)) gallates were noted to be the most effective against this food-borne bacterium, each with a minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of 12.5 microg/mL, followed by decyl (C(10)) gallate, with a MBC of 25 microg/mL. Dodecyl (C(12)) gallate exhibited activity against S. choleraesuis, with a MBC of 50 microg/mL. Propyl (C(3)) gallate showed no activity against S. choleraesuis up to 3200 microg/mL. The length of the alkyl group is not a major contributor but plays a role in eliciting the activity to a large extent. The same series of alkyl gallates, regardless of alkyl chain length, all showed nearly the same potent scavenging activity on the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl radical, indicating that the length of the alkyl group is not associated with the activity.     

Synthesis and antifungal activities of alkyl N-(1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-carbonyl) carbamates and S-alkyl N-(1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-carbonyl) carbamothioates

A series of alkyl N-(1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-carbonyl) carbamates and S-alkyl N-(1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-carbonyl) carbamothioates with unsubstituted or monobrominated straight chain alkyl groups were synthesized and evaluated as fungistatic agents against Gibberella zeae and Alternaria kikuchiana. These compounds showed variable antifungal activities at concentrations of 5 and 50 microg/mL. The results showed that antifungal activities depended on the length of the alkyl chain with the optimal chain length of 6-11 carbons. Carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-, hexyl ester (4) showed a strong fungistatic activity against A. kikuchiana at both concentrations, with 90.7 and 54% growth inhibition at 50 and 5 microg/mL, respectively. Carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-, heptyl ester (5); Carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-, octyl ester (6); and Carbamic acid, (1,2,3-thiadiazole-4-ylcarbonyl)-, undecyl ester (9) showed strong fungistatic activity against G. zeae at both concentrations. Their growth inhibitions against G. zeae at the concentration of 5 microg/mL were 78, 63, and 59%, respectively.     

Antimicrobial properties of Quercus ilex L. proanthocyanidin dimers and simple phenolics: evaluation of their synergistic activity with conventional antimicrobials and prediction of their pharmacokinetic profile

The antibacterial and antifungal activities of an ample number of phenolic compounds isolated from Quercus ilex leaves, belonging to the classes of flavonoids, proanthocyanidins, and phenolic acids, are discussed. The isolation of A type proanthocyanidin, (+)-epigallocatechin-(2β→O→7, 4β→8)-(+)-catechin is reported for the first time. Its structure was established by means of highfield NMR (correlation spectroscopy, heteronuclear single quantum correlation, heteronuclear multiple bond correlation, and rotating frame Overhauser effect spectroscopy) and MS spectral analyses, while its absolute configuration was determined by circular dichroism measurements. The isolated compounds were tested for their antimicrobial effects against eight human bacterial species and 14 fungal species. In a second step, the most potent compounds were tested in combination with the conventional fungicides, bifonazole and ketoconazole, to evaluate possible synergistic effects. Results showed that proanthocyanidins 3 and 4 when combined with bifonazole and ketoconazole increase the activity of both of these conventional fungicides. Moreover, the pharmacokinetic profile of the isolated compounds was investigated using computational methods.     

Effect of 3-O-octanoyl-(+)-catechin on the responses of GABA(A) receptors and Na+/glucose cotransporters expressed in xenopus oocytes and on the oocyte membrane potential

Recently, 3-O-octanoyl-(+)-catechin (OC) was synthesized from (+)-catechin (C) by incorporation of an octanoyl chain into C in the light of (-)-epicatechin gallate (ECg) and (-)-epigallocatechin gallate (EGCg), which are the major polyphenols found in green tea and have strong physiological activities. OC was found to inhibit the response of ionotropic gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptors (GABA(A) receptors) and Na+/glucose cotransporters expressed in Xenopus oocytes in a noncompetitive manner more strongly than does C. OC also induced a nonspecific membrane current and decreased the membrane potential of the oocyte, and thus death of the oocyte occurred even at lower concentrations than that induced by C or EGCg. Although EGCg produced H2O2 in aqueous solution, OC did not. This newly synthesized catechin derivative OC possibly binds to the lipid membrane more strongly than does C, Ecg, or EGCg and as a result perturbs the membrane structure.     

New bioactive biomaterials based on quaternized chitosan

Chitosan was chemically modified to produce quaternary ammonium salts in order to improve its antimicrobial activity and physicochemical properties. Quaternization of N-alkyl chitosan derivatives was carried out using alkyl iodide to elaborate water-soluble cationic polyelectrolytes ( N, N, N-trimethylchitosan, TMC). TMC was characterized by (1)H NMR spectroscopy; the quaternization degree was determined from (1)H NMR spectra and by titration of iodide ion. The antibacterial activity of hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) films or coatings associated with chitosan or TMC as biocide was evaluated against the growth of Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella typhimurium. The HPC-chitosan and HPC-TMC coatings exhibited a total inhibition on solid medium of both bacterial strains. Experiments conducted in liquid medium showed that the inhibitory activity against the growth of Listeria innocua was improved after chemical modification. Moreover, physicochemical properties of films were evaluated to determine their potential for food applications. The addition of the antibacterial agents showed a significant impact on the moisture barrier and mechanical properties of HPC films.     

Polyphenolic constituents of Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. and antibacterial effect of polymeric proanthocyanidin on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Oligomeric and polymeric flavan-3-ols were obtained by chromatographic fractionation of extracts from Cynomorium songaricum Rupr. The structure of the polymeric constituent, cynomoriitannin, was characterized using spectral and chemical data. Results from acid-catalyzed degradation indicated that cynomoriitannin is a polymeric proanthocyanidin predominantly composed of epicatechin, together with low proportions of epicatechin-3-O-gallate and catechin as extension units. The terminal unit was chiefly composed of catechin, with an admixture of epicatechin. Size exclusion chromatographic analysis demonstrated a mean polymerization degree of 14. Two new phloroglucinol adducts (cynomoriitannin-phloroglucinol adducts A and B) obtained by acid-catalyzed degradation of cynomoriitannin in the presence of phloroglucinol were characterized using spectral analyses. Six oligomeric flavan-3-ols were also identified as follows: procyanidin B3, catechin-(6'-8)-catechin, catechin-(6'-6)-catechin, epicatechin-(4β-8)- epicatechin-(4β-8)-catechin, epicatechin-(4β-6)-epicatechin-(4β-8)-catechin, and arecatannin A1, respectively. These flavan-3-ols were isolated from C. songaricum. This is the first time that this procedure has been described. The antibacterial activity of the fractions and constituents was tested against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). The crude acetone-water (7:3) extract had moderate activity against MRSA. Cynomoriitannin was the most effective of the plant constituents against MRSA.     

Antioxidant properties of ferulic acid and its related compounds

Antioxidant activity of 24 ferulic acid related compounds together with 6 gallic acid related compounds was evaluated using several different physical systems as well as their radical scavenging activity. The radical scavenging activity on 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) decreased in the order caffeic acid > sinapic acid > ferulic acid > ferulic acid esters > p-coumaric acid. In bulk methyl linoleate, test hydroxycinnamic acids and ferulic acid esters showed antioxidant activity in parallel with their radical scavenging activity. In an ethanol-buffer solution of linoleic acid, the activity of test compounds was not always associated with their radical scavenging activity. Ferulic acid was most effective among the tested phenolic acids. Esterification of ferulic acid resulted in increasing activity. The activity of alkyl ferulates was somewhat influenced by the chain length of alcohol moiety. When the inhibitory effects of alkyl ferulates against oxidation of liposome induced by AAPH were tested, hexyl, octyl, and 2-ethyl-1-hexyl ferulates were more active than the other alkyl ferulates. Furthermore, lauryl gallate is most effective among the tested alkyl gallates. These results indicated that not only the radical scavenging activity of antioxidants, but also their affinity with lipid substrates, might be important factors in their activity.     

Comparative study of the products of the peroxidase-catalyzed and the polyphenoloxidase-catalyzed (+)-catechin oxidation. Their possible implications in strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa) browning reactions

The peroxidase- and polyphenoloxidase-catalyzed oxidations of (+)-catechin yield several products showing different degrees of polymerization, which are apparently responsible for the pigment decay and the associated browning reaction that occurs in processed strawberry fruits and their derived foods. In this work, we have purified both peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase from Oso Grande cv. strawberry fruits, and comparatively analyzed the products of their enzyme-mediated (+)-catechin oxidation. The joint analysis by reversed-phase and size-exclusion HPLC of the (+)-catechin oxidation products obtained with both enzymes indicate that they were qualitatively the same: dehydrodicatechin B4, a (+)-catechin quinone methide, dehydrodicatechin A, a (+)-catechin trimer, and a (+)-catechin oligomer with polymerization degree equal to or greater than 5. The main quantitative differences between the oxidative reactions were the great amount of oligomer formed in the case of the polyphenoloxidase-mediated reaction and the low amount of (+)-catechin reacted in the case of the peroxidase-mediated reaction. One of the possible reasons for such low levels of (+)-catechin consumption in the case of the peroxidase-mediated reaction was the possible inhibition by products of the enzyme-catalyzed oxidation. In fact, the peroxidase-mediated (+)-catechin oxidation was differentially inhibited by dehydrodicatechin A, showing a competitive type inhibition and a k(I) of 6.4 microM. In light of these observations, these results suggest that brown polymer formation, estimated as oligomeric compounds resulting from (+)-catechin oxidation, in strawberries is mainly due to polyphenoloxidase, and although peroxidase also plays an important role, it is apparently auto-regulated by product (dehydrodicatechin A) inhibition.     

NMR analytical approach to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of antioxidants in tea using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl

(+)-catechin, ethyl gallate, ascorbic acid, and alpha-tocopherol were reacted with 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and the reaction mixtures were subjected to 13C-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analyses to clarify the molecular mechanisms of the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of each antioxidant. When ascorbic acid was reacted with DPPH, it was oxidized to dehydroascorbic acid by DPPH. When a mixture of ascorbic acid and (+)-catechin was reacted with DPPH, ascorbic acid scavenged DPPH radical faster than (+)-catechin. Ascorbic acid also scavenged DPPH radical faster than ethyl gallate and alpha-tocopherol. When (+)-catechin was reacted with DPPH, the B-ring of (+)-catechin changed to an o-quinone structure. However, it was reduced to (+)-catechin by ethyl gallate or alpha-tocopherol. alpha-Tocopherol and ethyl gallate had almost identical antioxidative activities. Therefore, the order of radical-scavenging ability (speed) suggested by our 13C NMR study was as follows: ascorbic acid > alpha-tocopherol = ethyl gallate > (+)-catechin.     

(+)-Catechin-aldehyde condensations: competition between acetaldehyde and glyoxylic acid

(+)-Catechin reaction with two aldehydes (acetaldehyde and glyoxylic acid) was studied in winelike model solution. The two aldehydes were reacted either individually or together with (+)-catechin and in molar excess. The reactions were followed by HLPC-UV and HPLC-ESI/MS to monitor (+)-catechin disappearance as well as dimer and polymer appearance. In all reactions a reaction order of close to 1 for (+)-catechin disappearance was observed. (+)-Catechin disappearance was slower in the presence of acetaldehyde (t(1/2) = 6.7 +/- 0.2 h) compared to glyoxylic acid (t(1/2) = 2.3 +/- 0.2 h). When the two aldehydes were reacted together, (+)-catechin disappearance was faster (t(1/2) = 2.2 +/- 0.5 h). When aldehydes were reacted separately, the dimer appearance was independent of the type of aldehyde used but the ethyl-bridged dimer disappearance was slower with acetaldehyde. When aldehydes were reacted together, the dimer appearance changed. Ethyl-bridged dimers appeared before carboxymethine-bridged dimers, and their disappearance occurred earlier. Copolymers containing both ethyl and carboxymethine bridges were also observed.     

Identification of adducts between an odoriferous volatile thiol and oxidized grape phenolic compounds: kinetic study of adduct formation under chemical and enzymatic oxidation conditions

HPLC-MS and (1)H, (13)C, and 2D NMR analyses were used to identify new addition products between 3-sulfanylhexan-1-ol (3SH) and o-quinones derived from (+)-catechin, (-)-epicatechin, and caftaric acid. The kinetics of formation of these adducts were monitored in a wine model solution and in a must-like medium by HPLC-UV-MS with the aim of understanding the chemical mechanism involved in reactions between volatile thiols and o-quinones. One o-quinone-caftaric acid/3SH adduct, three o-quinone-(+)-catechin/3SH adducts, and three o-quinone-(-)-epicatechin/3SH adducts were characterized. Caftaric acid was oxidized faster than (-)-epicatechin and (+)-catechin when these phenolic compounds were incubated in a one-component mixture with polyphenoloxidase (PPO) in the presence of 3SH. Consequently, o-quinone-caftaric acid formed adducts with 3SH more rapidly than o-quinone-(+)-catechin and o-quinone-(-)-epicatechin in the absence of other nucleophilic species. Furthermore, o-quinone-(-)-epicatechin reacted faster than o-quinone-(+)-catechin with 3SH. Sulfur dioxide decreased the yield of adduct formation to a significant extent. Under chemical oxidation conditions, the rates and yields of adduct formation were lower than those observed in the presence of PPO, and o-quinone-caftaric acid was slightly less reactive with 3SH, compared to oxidized flavan-3-ols. The identification of o-quinone-caftaric acid/3SH and o-quinone-(+)-catechin/3SH adducts in a must matrix suggests that the proposed reaction mechanism is responsible for 3SH loss in dry wines during their vinification and aging process.     

Interaction of four monoterpenes contained in essential oils with model membranes: implications for their antibacterial activity

The present article reports the antimicrobial efficacy of four monoterpenes (thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and gamma-terpinene) against the Gram-positive bacterium Staphylococcus aureus and the Gram-negative bacterium Escherichia coli. For a better understanding of their mechanism of action, the damage caused by these four monoterpenes on biomembranes was evaluated by monitoring the release, following exposure to the compounds under study, of the water-soluble fluorescent marker carboxyfluorescein (CF) from large unilamellar vesicles (LUVs) with different lipidic composition (phosphatidylcholine, PC, phosphatidylcholine/phosphatidylserine, PC/PS, 9:1; phosphatidylcholine/stearylamine, PC/SA, 9:1). Furthermore, the interaction of these terpenes with dimyristoylphosphatidylcholine multilamellar vesicles as model membranes was monitored by means of differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) technique. Finally, the results were related also with the relative lipophilicity and water solubility of the compounds examined. We observed that thymol is considerably more toxic against S. aureus than the other three terpenes, while carvacrol and p-cymene are the most inhibitory against E. coli. Thymol and carvacrol, but not gamma-terpinene and p-cymene, caused a concentration-dependent CF leakage from all kinds of LUVs employed; in particular, thymol was more effective on PC and PC/SA LUVS than on PC/PS vesicles, while carvacrol challenge evoked a CF leakage from PC/PS LUVs similar to that induced from PC/SA LUVs, and lower than that measured with PC vesicles. Concerning DSC experiments, these four terpenes caused a decrease in Tm and (especially carvacrol and p-cymene) DeltaH values, very likely acting as substitutional impurities. Taken together, our findings lead us to speculate that the antimicrobial effect of thymol, carvacrol, p-cymene, and gamma-terpinene may result, partially at least, from a gross perturbation of the lipidic fraction of the plasmic membrane of the microorganism. In addition to being related to the physicochemical characteristics of the compounds (such as lipophilicity and water solubility), this effect seems to be dependent on the lipidic composition and net surface charge of the microbic membranes. Furthermore, the compounds might cross the cell membranes, thus penetrating into the interior of the cell and interacting with intracellular sites critical for antibacterial activity.     

Molecular design of multifunctional food additives: antioxidative antifungal agents

A series of alkyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoates (protocatechuates) was synthesized, and their fungicidal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae was assayed using a 2-fold serial broth dilution method. Nonyl and octyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate were noted to be the most effective against this yeast with the minimum fungicidal concentration of 12.5 microg/mL each. The activity was found to correlate with the hydrophobic alkyl chain length. The time-kill curve study showed that nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate was fungicidal against S. cerevisiae at any growth stage and this activity was not influenced by pH values. The fungicidal activity of alkyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoates was noted in combination with their ability to disrupt the native membrane-associated function nonspecifically as surface-active agents (surfactants) and to inhibit the respiratory electron transport. However, the primary fungicidal activity of nonyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate likely comes from its ability to act as a surfactant.     

Isomeric influence on the oxidative coloration of phenolic compounds in a model white wine: comparison of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin

The reactions of (+)-catechin and (-)-epicatechin with glyoxylic acid were studied in a model white wine solution. When the reactions were performed in darkness at 45 degrees C, the (-)-epicatechin concentration decreased more rapidly than that of (+)-catechin, and the (-)-epicatechin sample had twice the 440 nm absorbance of the (+)-catechin sample after the 14 day incubation period. The main pigments generated were identified as xanthylium cation pigments regardless of the isomeric character of the phenolic compound. Using a combination of absorbance and ion current data, the xanthylium cation pigments generated from (-)-epicatechin were found to have combined molar absorptivity coefficients 1.8 times that of the xanthylium cation pigments generated from (+)-catechin. The implication of these results on the development of an index of white wine oxidation susceptibility is discussed.     

Structure-dependent phytotoxicity of catechins and other flavonoids: flavonoid conversions by cell-free protein extracts of Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) roots

Invasive plants are believed to succeed in part by secretion of allelochemicals, thus displacing competing plant species. Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) provides a classic example of this process. We have previously reported that spotted knapweed roots secrete (+/-)-catechin and that (-)-catechin, but not (+)-catechin, is phytotoxic and hence may be a major contributor to C. maculosa's invasive behavior in the rhizosphere. In this communication, we explore both structure/activity relationships for flavonoid phytotoxicity and possible biosynthetic pathways for root production of (+/-)-catechin. Kaempferol and dihydroquercetin were shown to be phytotoxic, while quercetin was not. Kaempferol was converted to dihydroquercetin and (+/-)-catechin when treated with total root protein extracts from C. maculosa, but quercetin was not. This finding suggests an alteration in the standard flavonoid biosynthetic pathway in C. maculosa roots, whereby kaempferol is not a dead-end product but serves as a precursor to dihydroquercetin, which in turn leads to (+/-)-catechin production.