Studies on the inhibitory effects of zinc heptanoate on microorganisms

Inhibitory effect of zinc heptanoate was observed on different cultures of bacteria and fungi. Growth of all the bacteria was inhibited by the compound. Greatest inhibition was seen in the case of Staphylococcus albus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella flexneri, Salmonella typhi, S. paratyphi A, S. paratyphi B, Vibrio cholerae, Corynebacterium diphtheriae, and E. coli whereas least inhibition was found in the case of Staphylococcus aureus. In triethanolamine: water (1:1) solution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was least for Klebsiella pneumoniae (800 p.p.m.) while in the case of Staph. aureus and Bacillus subtilis it was 200 p.p.m. Among yeasts and fungi greatest inhibition was found with Trichophyton schoenleini, T. rubrum, T. gourvili, Microsporum adouini, M. vanbreuseghemi and least in the case of Candida albicans. In triethanolamine: water (1:1) solution the MIC for T. schoenleini and T. gourvili and T. violaceum was as low as 900 p.p.m. whereas in the case of Aspergillus oryzae it was highest--3500 p.p.m. The effect of the compound on glucose consumption of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis was also seen.