Sekundarni povzetek: |
Tannins are secondary metabolites of higher plants. They are not involved in plant growth and development, but their main function is to protect plants from herbivores and other invaders from the environment. They are very versatile in structure and properties, which allows them to form coordination compounds with various metal ions, complex with proteins, and also exibit good antimicrobial properties. It is for the latter reason that they are now increasingly used as potential antimicrobial agents. The experimental work consisted of the characterisation of a selected strain of Escherichia coli, followed by the determination of the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) with purified tannins (vescalagin, castalagin, vescalin, castalin and gallic acid) as well as with aqueous chestnut extract Farmatan. Finally, metal ions of different concentrations were added to the tannins and extract studied and their effect on the MIC value was monitored. In both procedures, the MIC values were determined by turbidimetry and by the addition of iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT dye).
At the outset, we characterised the selected E. coli strain by plotting calibration and growth curves. The calibration curve was used to determine the equation, which was applied in all subsequent steps of the work. The growth curve was then determined with a suitably prepared inoculum dilution. This required the measuring of the optical density (OD) over a longer period of time (3 days).
Subsequently, purified tannins and chestnut extract were used, at different concentrations and the MICs required to inhibit E. coli growth were determined. The values obtained by turbidimetry were for vescalagin: 0,112 ± 0,074 g/L; castalagin: 0,217 ± 0,093 g/L; vescalin: 0,145 ± 0,034 g/L; castalin: 0,078 ± 0,022 g/L; gallic acid: 4,200 ± 0,748 g/L; and Farmatan: 0,794 ± 0,213 g/L. With the addition of INT dye, the values were for vescalagin: 0,138 ± 0,070 g/L; castalagin: 0,171 ± 0,019 g/L; vescalin: 0,145 ± 0,034 g/L; castalin: 0,078 ± 0,022 g/L; gallic acid: 4,333 ± 0,745 g/L; and Farmatan: 0,481 ± 0,030 g/L. Moreover, different concentrations of metal ions Fe(II), Fe(III), Cu(II), Mn(II), Zn(II) and Ni(II) were added to the tannins and extract used and the differences in the MIC values obtained were monitored, by turbidimetry and by the INT dye addition methods. From the results obtained, it was evident that the MIC values mostly increased, but not everywhere. This is because of interactions between metal ions and tannins, which lead to the formation of coordination compounds and, therefore, affects the antibacterial activity of tannins. |