Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and some isolated sulfur-rich compounds from Scorodophloeus zenkeri

The essential oil and several pure sulfur compounds isolated from Scorodophloeus zenkeri were tested for their antibacterial and antifungal activity using a paper disc method, the poisoned food technique, a microatmosphere method and the measurement of cellular ATP content. The essential oil completely inhibited the growth of all fungi tested including yeasts, with the exception of Aspergillus flavus, and was active against the Gram-positive bacteria studied, but not the Gram-negative organisms. 2,4,5,7-Tetrathiaoctane, 2,4,5,6,8-pentathianonane, 2,3,4,6,8-pentathianonane, 2,3,5,6,8,10-hexathiaundecane, 2,3,5-trithiahexane 5-oxide, 2,4,5,7-tetrathiaoctane 2-oxide, 2,3,5,7-tetrathiaoctane 3,3-dioxide and 2,3,5-trithiahexane 3,3-dioxide differed in their effects on the strains studied with respect to both growth and synthesis of cellular ATP. 2,3,5-Trithiahexane, 2,3,4,6-tetrathiaheptane, methyl methanethiosulfonate and bis-methyl-sulfonylmethane exhibited no antimicrobial activity.