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Cited by 198Antimicrobial agents and applicationsEssential Oils and Antimicrobial ActivityBacterial biofilms and quorum sensing

Glycerol monolaurate antibacterial activity in broth and biofilm cultures.

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Schlievert, Patrick M., Peterson, Marnie L.·2012·PLoS ONE
DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0040350PMC PMC3394780
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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Glycerol monolaurate (GML) is an antimicrobial agent that has potent activity against gram-positive bacteria. This study examines GML antibacterial activity in comparison to lauric acid, in broth cultures compared to biofilm cultures, and against a wide range of gram-positive, gram-negative, and non-gram staining bacteria. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: GML is ≥ 200 times more effective than lauric acid in bactericidal activity, defined as a ≥ 3 log reduction in colony-forming units (CFU)/ml, against Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pyogenes in broth cultures. Both molecules inhibit superantigen production by these organisms at concentrations that are not bactericidal. GML prevents biofilm formation by Staphylococcus aureus and Haemophilus influenzae, as representative gram-positive and gram-negative organisms, tested in 96 well microtiter plates, and simultaneously is bactericidal for both organisms in mature biofilms. GML is bactericidal for a wide range of potential bacterial pathogens, except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. In the presence of acidic pH and the cation chelator ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid, GML has greatly enhanced bactericidal activity for Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae. Solubilization of GML in a nonaqueous delivery vehicle (related to K-Y Warming®) enhances its bactericidal activity against S. aureus. Both R and S, and 1 and 2 position lauric acid derivatives of GML exhibit bactericidal activity. Despite year-long passage of Staphylococcus aureus on sub-growth inhibitory concentrations of GML (0.5 x minimum bactericidal concentration), resistance to GML did not develop. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: GML may be useful as a broad-spectrum human or animal topical microbicide and may be useful as an environmental surface microbicide for management of bacterial infections and contamination.

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Crossref · 10.1371/journal.pone.0040350

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  • Bacteria are unlikely to acquire resistance to lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate.

    “because these bacteria are also unlikely to acquire resistance to these compounds (Petschow et al., 1996; Schlievert and Peterson, 2012; Jackman et al., 2020).”

    From Insect Derived Lauric Acid as Promising Alternative Strategy to Antibiotics in the Antimicrobial Resistance Scenario (2021) · cites this paper as Schlievert and Peterson, 2012

    The Discussion (page not provided) says that Staphylococcus aureus did not develop resistance after a year of exposure to sub-growth-inhibitory glycerol monolaurate (GML), and concludes that GML resistance is unlikely. The paper compares lauric acid with GML for antibacterial activity, but does not establish that resistance to lauric acid is unlikely or extend the resistance finding beyond S. aureus. (LLM, conf=0.87)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured

  • Lauric acid and glycerol monolaurate destabilize the bacterial cell membrane.

    “Their ability to destabilize the bacterial cell membrane makes them promising candidates among novel antimicrobials”

    From Insect Derived Lauric Acid as Promising Alternative Strategy to Antibiotics in the Antimicrobial Resistance Scenario (2021) · cites this paper as Schlievert and Peterson, 2012

    The Discussion (page unavailable) suggests that glycerol monolaurate may alter the bacterial plasma membrane, but presents this as a possible mechanism rather than an established ability to destabilize it. The Results report antibacterial activity for both compounds, but do not establish that lauric acid destabilizes the membrane. (LLM, conf=0.84)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. [29]Kabara JJ 1981 Food-grade chemicals for use in designing food preservatives. J Food Prot 44 633 647 30836534

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Authors
Schlievert, P. M., & Peterson, M. L.
Affiliations
  • University of Iowa (US)
  • University of Minnesota (US)
Corresponding author
Schlievert, Patrick M.
ORCID
Venue
PLoS ONE
Publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Published
2012-07-11
Volume
7
Issue
7
Pages
e40350
ISSN
1932-6203 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0040350
PMC
PMC3394780
OpenAlex
W2035186660
Cited by
198
References
33
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 13 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 18 · 2019: 20 · 2018: 19 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 11 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 5
FWCI
2.21
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • PLoS ONE (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health
  • National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (U54 AI 57153, R01AI073366, R01 AI73366, U54AI057153, R01AI074283)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Organic Chemistry › Antimicrobial agents and applications
  • Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Food Science › Essential Oils and Antimicrobial Activity
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Bacterial biofilms and quorum sensing
Keywords
glycerol monolaurate, lauric acid, antibacterial activity, biofilm inhibition, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, Haemophilus influenzae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterobacteriaceae, bactericidal activity, microbicides, topical antimicrobial agents, surface disinfectants, antimicrobial resistance
MeSH terms
Anti-Bacterial Agents, Bacteria, Glycerol, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Laurates, Lauric Acids, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Community-Acquired Infections, Superantigens, Biofilms, Monoglycerides

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