The Resistance of Gallic Acid and its Alkyl Esters to Attack by Bacteria able to Degrade Aromatic Ring Structures

Summary: Various bacteria capable of degrading aromatic ring structures were unable to utilize gallic acid, methyl, ethyl or propyl gallates as sole carbon sources for growth when tested in liquid and solid media. A bacterial isolate was obtained which degraded gallic acid but not methyl, ethyl or propyl gallates, although ellagic acid, a major spontaneous degradation product of the gallate esters, was utilized to a limited degree.