The Action of Benzoic and Salicylic Acids on the Metabolism of Microorganisms

Abstract

Publisher Summary This chapter reviews investigations performed to elucidate the mechanism of action of benzoic and salicylic acids. The large amount of work on benzoic acid as a preservative has been discussed. It also discusses factors influencing inhibitor concentration at the place of action, with special reference to benzoic and salicylic acids. Benzoic and salicylic acids selectively inhibit various processes in intact bacterial cells. The chapter deals with the specific effectiveness of benzoic and salicylic acids in terms of their effects on various metabolic reactions. The chapter discusses experimental material which shows that benzoic and salicylic acids interfere with many enzymatic processes in microorganisms at concentrations that retard the growth rate. Both benzoic and salicylic acids are compounds with comparatively small possibilities to chemical specificity. The fact that they nevertheless show a certain selectivity in their action are related to their high lipoid solubility, which presumably cause them to accumulate on the cell membrane or on various structures and surfaces in the bacterial cell. It has been pointed out that many of the effects discussed in this chapter are due to an interference with the energy metabolism of the bacterial cell.