In Vitro Antibacterial Activity of Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfinate and Propyl-Propane-Thiosulfonate Derived from Allium spp. against Gram-Negative and Gram-Positive Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria Isolated from Human Samples

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to compare the in vitro antibacterial activity of two compounds derived from Alliaceae, PTS (propyl-propane-thiosulfinate), and PTSO (propyl-propane-thiosulfonate), with that of other antibiotics commonly used against bacteria isolated from humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 212 gram-negative bacilli and 267 gram-positive cocci isolated from human clinical samples and resistant to at least one group of antibiotics were selected. In order to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) to various antibiotics as well as PTS and PTSO, all isolates underwent broth microdilution assay. RESULTS: PTS showed moderate activity against Enterobacteriaceae with MIC(50) (and MBC(50)) and MIC(90) (and MBC(90)) values of 256-512 mg/L, while PTSO showed greater activity with MIC(50) and MIC(90) values of 64-128 mg/L and MBC(50) and MBC(90) values of 128-512 mg/L. These data show the bactericidal activity of both compounds and indicate that PTSO was more active than PTS against this group of bacteria. Both compounds showed lower activity against P. aeruginosa (MIC(50) = 1024 mg/L, MIC(90) = 2048 mg/L, MBC(50) = 2048 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 2048 mg/L, for PTS; MIC(50) = 512 mg/L, MIC(90) = 1024 mg/L, MBC(50) = 512 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 2048 mg/L, for PTSO) compared to those obtained in others nonfermenting gram-negative bacilli (MIC(50) = 128 mg/L, MIC(90) = 512 mg/L, MBC(50) = 128 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 512 mg/L, for PTS; MIC(50) = 64 mg/L, MIC(90) = 256 mg/L, MBC(50) = 64 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 256 mg/L, for PTSO) and also indicate the bactericidal activity of both compounds against these groups of bacteria. Finally, the activity against S. aureus, E. faecalis, and S. agalactiae was higher than that observed against enterobacteria, especially in the case of PTSO (MIC(50) = 8 mg/L, MIC(90) = 8 mg/L, MBC(50) = 32 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 64 mg/L, in S. aureus; MIC(50) = 4 mg/L, MIC(90) = 8 mg/L, MBC(50) = 8 mg/L, and MBC(90) = 16 mg/L, in E. faecalis and S. agalactiae). CONCLUSION: PTS and PTSO have a significant broad spectrum antibacterial activity against multiresistant bacteria isolated from human clinical samples. Preliminary results in present work provide basic and useful information for development and potential use of these compounds in the treatment of human infections.