METHOD ON MULTIWELL PLATES FOR THE EVALUATION OF THE ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF RESIN ACID-DERIVATIVES

A method performed in solid medium on multiwell plates was adapted in order to assess the antimicrobial activity of methyl cis-7-oxo-deisopr opyldehydroabietate (MCOD) and methyl trans-7-oxo-deisopropyldehydroab ietate (MTOD), resin acid derivatives obtained from pine rosin. (MCOD) and (MTOD) completely or partially inhibited spore germination of fil amentous fungi Mucor racemosus, Syncephalastum racemosum, Rhizopus sto lonifer and R. arrhizus and growth of bacteria Staphylococcus aureus a nd Enterococcus faecalis. The combination of both compounds inhibited growth of Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae. The stereoconfig uration of the molecule seems to play a role in the antibacterial acti vity of these compounds and a possible synergistic effect seems to inc rease their antibiotic activity. The technique described in the presen t work showed to be reproducible and sensitive in the evaluation of an timicrobial activity towards fungi and bacteria. (C) 1997 Elsevier Sci ence B.V.