The action of thymol on oral bacteria

Several effects of thymol, a plant-derived antimicrobial agent, on Porphyromonas gingivalis, Selenomonas artemidis and Streptococcus sobrinus were examined. The extremely rapid efflux of intracellular constituents evoked by thymol is consistent with its postulated membranotropic effects. Correlations between leakage-inducing concentrations of thymol and minimal inhibitory concentrations and minimal bactericidal concentrations suggest that membrane perforation is a principal mode of action of this substance. The thymol-induced decline in intracellular ATP in S. sobrinus appears to be entirely attributable to leakage, whereas in P. gingivalis thymol may also inhibit ATP-generating pathways. Relative changes in the transmembrane potential of resting cells of S. sobrinus pulsed with glucose are as sensitive to thymol as is leakage from this organism. The effects of thymol on transmembrane potential are probably secondary to those arising from leakage of intracellular substances.