Antibacterial activity of dipropofol and related compounds

Biol Pharm Bull. 2005 Jun;28(6):1120-2. doi: 10.1248/bpb.28.1120.

Abstract

Phenolic compounds, in general, exhibit antioxidant and antibacterial activities. We studied antimicrobial activity of the phenolic antioxidants, propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol), tocopherol, eugenol, butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), and several of their dimer compounds. Dipropofol (dimer of 2,6-diisopropylphenol) showed strong antibacterial activity against gram-positive strains including methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE), while propofol and other monomeric and dimeric phenols having methyl or tert-butyl groups showed no remarkable activity. The results indicated that the dimeric structure of 2,6-diisopropylphenol moiety may play an important role in the antibacterial activity.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / chemical synthesis
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
  • Propofol / analogs & derivatives*
  • Propofol / chemical synthesis
  • Propofol / pharmacology*
  • Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Propofol