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Cited by 378Acne and Rosacea Treatments and EffectsDermatology and Skin DiseasesEssential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity

Antimicrobial property of lauric acid against Propionibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential for inflammatory acne vulgaris.

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Nakatsuji, Teruaki, Kao, Mandy C., Fang, Jia-You, Zouboulis, Christos C., Zhang, Liangfang, Gallo, Richard L., Huang, Chun-Ming·2009·Journal of Investigative Dermatology
DOI 10.1038/jid.2009.93PMC PMC2772209
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Abstract

The strong bactericidal properties of lauric acid (C12:0), a middle chain-free fatty acid commonly found in natural products, have been shown in a number of studies. However, it has not been demonstrated whether lauric acid can be used for acne treatment as a natural antibiotic against Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes), which promotes follicular inflammation (inflammatory acne). This study evaluated the antimicrobial property of lauric acid against P. acnes both in vitro and in vivo. Incubation of the skin bacteria P. acnes, Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), and Staphylococcus epidermidis (S. epidermidis) with lauric acid yielded minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values against the bacterial growth over 15 times lower than those of benzoyl peroxide (BPO). The lower MIC values of lauric acid indicate stronger antimicrobial properties than that of BPO. The detected values of half maximal effective concentration (EC(50)) of lauric acid on P. acnes, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis growth indicate that P. acnes is the most sensitive to lauric acid among these bacteria. In addition, lauric acid did not induce cytotoxicity to human sebocytes. Notably, both intradermal injection and epicutaneous application of lauric acid effectively decreased the number of P. acnes colonized with mouse ears, thereby relieving P. acnes-induced ear swelling and granulomatous inflammation. The obtained data highlight the potential of using lauric acid as an alternative treatment for antibiotic therapy of acne vulgaris.

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Authors
Nakatsuji, T., Kao, M. C., Fang, J.-Y., Zouboulis, C. C., Zhang, L., Gallo, R. L., & Huang, C.-M.
Affiliations
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • Chang Gung University (TW)
  • Städtisches Klinikum Dessau (DE)
Corresponding author
Huang, Chun-Ming
ORCID
Venue
Journal of Investigative Dermatology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2009-10
Volume
129
Issue
10
Pages
2480-2488
ISSN
0022-202X (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1038/jid.2009.93
PMC
PMC2772209
OpenAlex
W2133051117
Cited by
378
References
55
Citations by year
2026: 17 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 26 · 2021: 36 · 2020: 32 · 2019: 31 · 2018: 23 · 2017: 20 · 2016: 23 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 19 · 2012: 18
FWCI
20.07
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Journal of Investigative Dermatology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (R01-AI067395-01, R21-I58002-01, R21-R022754-01)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Acne and Rosacea Treatments and Effects
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Dermatology › Dermatology and Skin Diseases
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
Keywords
lauric acid, Propionibacterium acnes, acne, antimicrobial activity, natural antibiotics, minimum inhibitory concentration, benzoyl peroxide, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, sebocytes, granulomatous inflammation, topical application, intradermal injection, mouse model
MeSH terms
Acne Vulgaris, Animals, Anti-Infective Agents, Benzoyl Peroxide, Cell Line, Dermatologic Agents, Disease Models, Animal, Ear, Humans, Lauric Acids, Mice, Inbred ICR, Propionibacterium acnes, Sebaceous Glands, Skin, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Mice

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