COMPARISON OF ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF MONOTERPENES AND THEIR CARBONYLATED PRODUCTS

Some monoterpenes and their carbonylated products were evaluated for t heir antibacterial and antifungal properties. The carbonylation of tes ted monoterpenes was shown to increase the bacteriostatic and fungista tic activities specifically by the contact method. Concerning the kill ing effects, only (1R,2S,5R)-isopulegol, its carbonylated product, and (R)-carvone showed significant bactericidal activities, particularly against Enterococcus faecium and Escherichia coli above a concentratio n of 10 mu l/ml. A fungicidal efficiency of (1R,2S,5R)-isopulegol and (R)-carvone against Aspergillus niger was also noted. It seems that th e presence of an oxygenated function in the framework increases the an timicrobial properties. However, monoterpenes were more active using a micro-atmosphere method.