Antibacterial and Antifungal Activity of Three Monosaccharide Monomyristate Derivatives

Jumina Jumina1, Mutmainah Mutmainah2, Bambang Purwono3

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta 55281, Indonesia. jumina@ugm.ac.id.

Insights

Novel monomyristoyl esters synthesized from myristic acid and monosaccharides show promising antimicrobial activity. These biocompatible derivatives offer potential as natural agents against foodborne microbial infections.

Area of Science:

  • Food Science
  • Organic Chemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Microbial infections pose significant challenges in the food industry due to antimicrobial resistance.
  • Existing antibacterial and antifungal agents face limitations in efficacy and safety.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To synthesize novel monomyristoyl esters from myristic acid and monosaccharides.
  • To evaluate the antimicrobial and antifungal activities of these synthesized esters.

Main Methods:

  • Two-step synthesis involving myristoyl chloride formation and reaction with fructose, glucose, and galactose.
  • Structural confirmation using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and mass spectrometry (MS).
  • Antimicrobial activity assessed via disc diffusion tests against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria and fungi.

Main Results:

  • Successfully synthesized fructosyl, glucosyl, and galactosyl monomyristates with yields ranging from 45.80% to 79.49%.
  • Esters demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria and weak activity against gram-negative bacteria.
  • Significant antifungal activity was observed against Candida albicans; galactosyl monomyristate showed broad-spectrum antibacterial action.

Conclusions:

  • Monosaccharide monomyristate derivatives are effective antimicrobial agents.
  • These compounds show potential as biocompatible alternatives for controlling microbial contamination in food.
  • Further research into these novel esters could lead to new food preservation strategies.