Antimicrobial potential of natural deep eutectic solvents.

Area of Science:

• Green chemistry and material science
• Microbiology and pharmaceutical science
• Biotechnology and sustainable chemistry

Background:

• Natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) are emerging green solvents with excellent solubilizing properties for poorly soluble compounds.
• Composed of natural hydrogen bond donors and acceptors, NADES are often biodegradable, non-toxic, and possess antimicrobial properties.
• Their unique composition allows for versatile applications in various scientific fields.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of a specific NADES system composed of menthol, capric acid, and Solutol™.
• To compare the antimicrobial activity of the NADES against its individual components.
• To assess the NADES' effectiveness against a panel of pathogenic microorganisms, including bacteria and fungi.

Main Methods:

• Preparation of a eutectic system using menthol, capric acid, and Solutol™.
• Microbiological testing of the NADES and its individual components against Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Candida albicans.
• Quantitative assessment of antimicrobial activity through zone of inhibition or minimum inhibitory concentration assays.

Main Results:

• The NADES exhibited significantly stronger antimicrobial effects than its individual constituents.
• The NADES demonstrated promising antimicrobial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans.
• Effective antimicrobial activity was observed against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, while no significant effect was noted against Bacillus subtilis.

Conclusions:

• The developed NADES formulation shows considerable potential as a green antimicrobial agent.
• NADES represent a viable alternative to conventional antimicrobial agents, particularly for specific microbial targets.
• Further research into NADES applications in antimicrobial formulations is warranted.