Characterization of the Bactericidal Activity of the Natural Diterpene Kaurenoic Acid

Abstract

Kaurenoic acid is a diterpene with selective antibacterial activity against Gram-positive bacteria. The compound is bacteriolytic for Bacillus cereus. This activity was only partially affected by the composition and pH of the culture medium. Loss of the ability to retain the Gram stain and morphological alterations were produced in B. cereus cells exposed to kaurenoic acid. On the other hand, LPS mutants of Salmonella typhi were resistant to the compound, but spheroplasts of Escherichia coli became more sensitive to kaurenoic acid.

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