Neglected antibacterial activity of ethylene glycol as a common solvent

• Published in: Microbial pathogenesis 2017-06, Vol.107, p.457-461
• Main Authors: Moghayedi, M., Ahmadzadeh, H., Ghazvini, K., Goharshadi, E.K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Antibacterial activity; Colony Count, Microbial; Escherichia coli; Escherichia coli - drug effects; Escherichia coli - growth & development; Escherichia coli - ultrastructure; Ethylene glycol; Ethylene Glycol - chemistry; Ethylene Glycol - pharmacology; Membranes - drug effects; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; Minimum bactericidal concentration; Minimum inhibitory concentration; Solvents - chemistry; Time Factors
• ISSN: 0882-4010; 1096-1208
• DOI: 10.1016/j.micpath.2017.04.022

For the first time, the antibacterial activity of ethylene glycol (EG), a routine frequently used solvent against Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacterium, was assessed. The antibacterial activity of EG against E. coli was measured using colony counting and broth turbidity assays. The influence of EG concentration (1.5–25.0%v/v) and exposure time on the growth of E. coli was investigated. By increasing EG concentration, its antibacterial activity against E. coli increased so that for 24.0% of EG, the bacteria growth was totally inhibited within 4 h. The MIC and MBC values of EG are 18.0 and 24.0%v/v, respectively. Since the ratio of MBC to MIC is less than four, EG acts as a bactericidal agent. Also, a model for the slopes of the linear part of the growth curves was proposed. The SEM images of bacteria cells before and after exposure to EG show that most E. coli were seriously distorted. [Display omitted] •The antibacterial activity of ethylene glycol (EG) against E. coli was measured.•The MIC and MBC values of EG were measured as 18.0 and 25%v/v, respectively.•Since the ratio of MIC to MBC is less than four, EG acts as a bactericidal agent.