Fatty acids antimicrobial activity

Nobmann P, Smith A, Dunne J, Henehan G and Bourke P. 2009. The antimicrobial efficacy and structure activity relationship of novel carbohydrate fatty acid derivatives against Listeria spp. and food spoilage microorganisms. Int J Food Microbiol 128(3) 440—445. 

The antifungal properties of fatty acids and several of their derivatives such as amides and methyl esters have been reviewed (113) as have their antimicrobial activities (114). Monolaurin (the ester of 1 auric acid and glycerol) is the most potent lipid derivative tested to date with regard to antibiotic activity. 

The nanoemulsions in US. Patent 6,015, 832 (Tables 1 and 2 in patent) were tested for antimicrobial activity, using the same bacteria above, together with oleic fatty acid and caprylic fatty acid. The average particle size of the nanoemulsions in (US. Patent 6,015, 832) were smaller than reported in the patent, and... 

Two epimeric amino alcohols, 2(5)-aminotetradeca-5,7-dien-3(5)- and -3(/ )-ol (305 and 306) were isolated from a sponge from Papua New Guinea (Xestospongia sp.) (248). The absolute stereochemistry was disclosed by degradation to L-alanine, and these amino alcohols (305 and 306) were suggested to be biosynthesized from fatty acids and alanine. Compounds 305 and 306 show antimicrobial activity. Rhizochalin (307) was isolated from the Madagascan sponge Rhizochalina incrustata as an antimicrobial constituent (349). The biosynthetic pathway for 307 is unknown but is conventionally believed to be derived from alanine and a polyketide precursors). 

Fatty acid-derived cychc peroxides are often found in marine sponges of the genus Plakortis the first example was chon-drillin (6). 1,2-Dioxane and 1,2-dioxolane carboxylates were also discovered from Plakortis sponges (9). These cychc oxides show a range of biologic activities, for example, antimicrobial, cytotoxic, and antimalarial activities. 

Some fatty acids, especially unsaturated fatty acids, are well-known skin penetration enhancers. It is also known that many fatty acids possess antimicrobial activity. The topical activity of the anti-viral drug acyclovir is hampered by its inadequate permeability through the skin barrier. Some reports have shown that fatty acid extract of cod liver oil as well as the extract in the form of an ointment show effective antiviral properties against herpes simplex virus (HSV-1) (37). 

It is still premature to give a clear correlation between structure and activity in the polymyxin group, because most published data on antimicrobial activity have been obtained either with impure material or with mixtures of the different individuals. Also the definition of potency differs for those antibiotics which were considered to be different up to now. But the synthesis " of the four compounds originally proposed by Hausmann with a D-a,y-diaminobutyric acid adjacent to the fatty acid and the synthesis of polymyxin Bj and colistin A have given some clues in these respects Table 1.12). 

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