Antimicrobial Effects of Compounds Used in Cleaning Wipes

The antimicrobial effectiveness and level of biofilm inhibition of three compounds from Rockline Industries were tested, along with five compounds made by the St. Norbert College Organic Chemistry Department. The Rockline compounds, ColaLipid (CL), Sodium Benzoate (NaB) and Benzoic Acid (BA), were solubilized in 10% DMSO and tested at concentrations of 0.15%, 0.10%, and 0.01%. To ensure that any growth effects were due to the compounds in question, DMSO was also tested for antimicrobial activity. The compounds were tested against safe relative of eight bacteria of clinical importance (Acinetobacter baylyi, Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus raffinosus, Enterobacter aerogenes, Pseudomonas fluorescens, Pseudomonas putida, Staphylococcus epidermidis) and one species of fungus (Candida albicans). The antimicrobial properties of these compounds were measured by reading absorbance at 600 nm of overnight cultures. Biofilm formation inhibition was measured using a crystal violet biofilm assay. ColaLipid and Benzoic Acid were found to inhibit growth of the bacterial and fungal strains, while Sodium Benzoate did not. Of the compounds synthesized by in St. Norbert organic chemists, two showed consistent inhibition of growth and three did not. ColaLipid, Benzoic Acid, and one organic compound showed consistent inhibition of biofilm formation.