Antimicrobial Activities of the Cinnamoyl Amide of Amino Acid Derivatives

Abstract

Cinnamic acid derivatives are well known natural antimicrobial compounds. In present studies, 23 cinnamoyl amides of amino acid derivatives were synthesized and their antimicrobial activities against Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were evaluated with benzoic acid as a reference. Most of the synthesized compounds were more active in inhibiting bacterial growth and all of them were more sensitive in controlling the growth of yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae than cinnamic acid. Moreover, some of them such as cinnamoyl butyl glycinate (compound 4) were more active than benzoic acid. The pH value influence on the antimicrobial activities of compound 4 was also investigated. Compared to benzoic acid, compound 4 was much more active when pH value was up to 7 and 7.5. These results gives us useful information for food preservatives.