Antibacterial activity of 1,2-dicarbonyl compounds and the influence of the in vitro assay system

The antibacterial activities of the dicarbonyl compounds glyoxal (GO), methylglyoxal (MGO), 3-deoxyglucosone (3-DG) were assessed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic and food spoilage bacteria, both in agarised and liquid assay system. The kinetics of dicarbonyls’ degradation at different antimicrobial assay conditions were studied, to determine the possible interference of the nutrient medium. In agarised assay system, GO and MGO exhibited antimicrobial activity, with higher efficacy against Gram-positive strains than Gram-negative ones. The nutrient medium reacted quickly both with GO and MGO, interfering with the antibacterial potential and the degradation kinetics indicated first-order reactions. In liquid assay system, both GO and MGO inhibited the target bacteria at concentrations significantly lower than those estimated in agarised assay system. Moreover, to the best of our knowledge, the antibacterial activity of GO and MGO against Listeria innocua, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Salmonella enterica and Bacillus cereus has not been previously reported.