Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of a series of fatty acids and fatty alcohols against a cariogenic bacterium, Streptococcus mutans, were determined by a tube dilution technique. Among saturated fatty alcohols, tetradecanol and pentadecanol had the highest activity (MIC, 1.56 μg/ml), while among monounsaturated fatty alcohols, 10Z-pentadecenol had the strongest activity (MIC, 0.78 μg/ml). Saturated fatty acids showed relatively weak activity; tridecanoic acid had the highest activity among them (MIC, 12.5 μg/ml). Among unsaturated fatty acids, 10Z-heptadecenoic, 6Z-octadecenoic, 11 Z-octadecenoic and 9Z, 12Z-octadecadienoic acids had potent activity (MIC, 3.13 μg/ml). The antibacterial activities of methyl-branched and hydroxyl fatty acids as well as long chain dicarboxylic acids were also investigated.
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Hattori et al. (1987) studied this question.