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ANTIMICROBIAL ACTION OF SHORT CHAIN ALCOHOLS AND GLYCOLS
Author(s) -
HERMAN E. B.,
HAAS G. J.,
CROSBY W. H.,
CANTE C. J.
Publication year - 1980
Publication title -
journal of food safety
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.427
H-Index - 43
eISSN - 1745-4565
pISSN - 0149-6085
DOI - 10.1111/j.1745-4565.1980.tb00391.x
Subject(s) - antimicrobial , chemistry , yeast , polyvinyl alcohol , alcohol , ethanol , membrane , antimicrobial peptides , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , organic chemistry , biology
Antimicrobial activities of various short chain alcohols and diols against a staphylococcus, a lactobacillus and a yeast, have been determined using a liquid culture system. There appears to be a relationship between carbon chain length and antimicrobial activity, and between molecular asymmetry and antimicrobial activity. Microorganisms which are resistant to the antimicrobial activity of propylene glycol have been found to be resistant to that of ethanol as well, as demonstrated by dilution plating of suspension cultures, and observations of single cells or small groups of cells in hanging drops. Cell membrane function interference is suggested as a mechanism of action since the inhibitory activity increases directly with reduced surface tension capability in the alcohol series.