Antidermatophytic and bacterial activity of mimosine

Mimosine, a non-protein aromatic amino acid was tested at 100, 50 and 25 mu g/mL on some human pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Mimosine exhibited total lethality towards Trichophyton tonsurans and Trichophyton rubrum at 100 mu g/mL. Among the tested bacteria Staphylococcus aureus was inhibited to a larger extent than the other bacteria. The studies revealed mimosine to be potent against fungi rather than bacteria. This study reports the effect of mimosine on dermatophytes for the first time. Copyright (c) 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.