The Role of Diallyl Sulfides and Dipropyl Sulfides in the In Vitro Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oil of Garlic, Allium sativum L., and Leek, Allium porrum L. (21st May 2012)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Casella, Sergio; Leonardi, Michele; Melai, Bernardo; Fratini, Filippo; Pistelli, Luisa
• Is Part Of: Phytotherapy research. Volume 27:Number 3(2013:Mar.)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 383
• Publication Date: 2012-05-21
• Subjects: Materia medica, Vegetable -- Periodicals; Botany, Medical -- Periodicals; Medicinal plants -- Periodicals; Plant Extracts -- therapeutic use -- Periodicals; Plants, Medicinal -- Periodicals; 581.634
• DOI: 10.1002/ptr.4725
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0951-418X

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p>The <italic>in vitro</italic> antibacterial activity of essential oils (EOs) obtained from fresh bulbs of garlic, <italic>Allium sativum</italic> L., and leek, <italic>Allium porrum</italic> L. ( Alliaceae), was studied. <italic>A. sativum</italic> (garlic) EO showed a good antimicrobial activity against <italic>Staphylococcus aureus</italic> (inhibition zone 14.8 mm), <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic> (inhibition zone 21.1 mm), and <italic>Escherichia coli</italic> (inhibition zone 11.0 mm), whereas the EO of <italic>A. porrum</italic> (leek) had no antimicrobial activity. The main constituents of the garlic EO were diallyl monosulfide, diallyl disulfide (DADS), diallyl trisulfide, and diallyl tetrasulfide. The EO of <italic>A. porrum</italic> was characterized by the presence of dipropyl disulfide (DPDS), dipropyl trisulfide, and dipropyl tetrasulfide. The antimicrobial activities of the DADS and DPDS were also studied. The results obtained suggest that the presence of the allyl group is fundamental for the antimicrobial activity of these sulfide derivatives when they are present in <italic>Allium</italic> or in other species (DADS inhibition zone on <italic>S. aureus</italic> 15.9 mm, <italic>P. aeruginosa</italic> 21.9 mm, <italic>E. coli</italic> 11.4 mm). Copyright © 2012 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.</p> </abstract>