Background:
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the routine use of antibiotics
has led to the increase of microbial resistance. Thus, the search for new compounds that present
antimicrobial activity must be constant. This study reports the bactericidal activity assay of the steviol
derivative 17-hydroxy-16-hydroxyiminobayeran-19-oic acid against various bacteria and structural studies
by quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics.
Methods:
Bactericidal activity assays of the steviol derivative 17-hydroxy-16-hydroxyiminobayeran-19-
oic acid against Salmonella typhimurium [ATCC 14028], Staphylococcus aureus [ATCC 6538], Bacillus
cereus [ATCC 11778], Helicobacter pylori [ATCC 26695], Pseudomonas aeruginosa [ATCC
27853], Escherichia coli [ATCC 25922] and Bacillus subtilis [ATCC 23857] were performed, as well as
structural studies by quantum chemistry and molecular dynamics.
Results:
The results show that the compound exhibits activity towards S. typhimurium, what makes it an
interesting compound for future studies on the development of antibiotics against this bacteria. An intramolecular
hydrogen bond does not seem to be maintained in solution, therefore, corresponding moieties
should be prone to interactions with their surroundings.
Conclusions:
The results indicate that the title compound exhibits activity towards S. typhimurium,
what sums up to similar results from other steviol derivatives and stevioside, thus reinforcing the potential
of these compounds for future studies on the development of antibiotics against this bacteria. The
potential energy surface for the selected torsion angles and molecular dynamics have revealed that an
intramolecular hydrogen bond, though slightly energetically favorable, does not seem to be maintained
in solution; therefore, corresponding moieties should be prone to interactions with their surroundings, an
important feature in further studies involving inhibitor/drug design from this compound.
