New antibacterial agent isolated from the avocado pear

Area of Science:

• Natural Products Chemistry
• Microbiology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Avocado (Persea americana) is a source of bioactive compounds.
• Long-chain aliphatic compounds are known for diverse biological activities.
• Antibacterial resistance necessitates the search for novel antimicrobial agents.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the antibacterial activity of new avocado-derived aliphatic compounds.
• To identify the most potent antimicrobial compound among the tested substances.
• To determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of active compounds.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and characterization of eight new long-chain aliphatic compounds from avocado.
• In vitro antibacterial assays against 13 bacterial species and one yeast.
• Determination of MIC values for active compounds, particularly against gram-positive bacteria.

Main Results:

• Several isolated compounds exhibited inhibitory effects on microbial growth.
• 1,2,4-Trihydroxy-n-hepadeca-16-en demonstrated significant antibacterial activity.
• This compound inhibited certain gram-positive bacteria at a concentration of 4 µg/ml.

Conclusions:

• New long-chain aliphatic compounds from avocado possess antimicrobial potential.
• 1,2,4-Trihydroxy-n-hepadeca-16-en is a promising candidate for further investigation as an antibacterial agent.
• Avocado represents a valuable natural resource for discovering novel antimicrobial compounds.