Growth inhibition mode of action of selected benzoic acid derivatives against the yeast pichia anomala

Abstract

Three benzoic acid derivatives (zinc p-iodobenzoate, zinc p-hydroxybenzoate, and zinc p-aminobenzoate) were synthesized and tested chemically and microbiologically in order to explain their mode of action against the yeast Pichia anomala. The yeast strains were cultivated in batch culture of chemically defined minimal medium (control) and with the addition of the studied compound at concentrations of 0.103 to 0.166% (wt/vol). The growth of microorganisms, H+ concentration, and the concentrations of both dissociated and undissociated forms of the appropriate weak acid in the medium were monitored at 1-h intervals during 24 h of incubation. The inhibitory effect of each compound on the growth of microorganisms was calculated based on measurement of optical density at 600 nm turbidity. The K parameter, defined as the ratio of the concentration of undissociated weak acid to the number of microorganisms in the medium, was determined. The K value is related to the degree of growth inhibition and provides new insight into the mode of action of weak organic acids against the studied yeasts. The buffering capacity of the chemicals studied was also found to be an inhibition parameter associated with microbial growth. Greater buffer capacity of a given compound reduced changes in the pH value of the medium, resulting in changes to antimicrobial effectiveness. © International Association for Food Protection.