Minocycline effectively reduces acid producted by Propionibacterium granulosum
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Updated: Oct 2, 2026

Establishing the Minimal Bactericidal Concentration of an Antimicrobial Agent for Planktonic Cells (MBC-P) and Biofilm Cells (MBC-B)
Published on: January 2, 2014
Shuichi Higaki1, Taro Kitagawa, Masaaki Morohashi
1Department of Dermatology, Faculty of Medicine, Toyama Medical & Pharmaceutical University, Sugitani, Japan.
Abstract:
We studied the effects of minocycline on Propionibacterium granulosum. P. granulosum lipase activity was detected from acne lesions. Production of propionic and butyric acids by P. granulosum was well suppressed by all tested media with added minocycline; the higher the concentration of minocycline in the medium, the less of these acids was produced. It appeared that the decrease in these acids due to minocycline was greater in P. granulosum than in P. acnes. Although the influence of P. granulosum on acne lesions might be feebler than that of P. acnes, we should not neglect its presence. More research is needed to elucidate the relationship between the two species in acne lesions.
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