Improved Photobactericidal Activity of Ultraviolet-A Light in Combination with Isomerizable p-Coumaric Acid Derivatives.

In order to improve the photobactericidal activity of ultraviolet-A (UV-A) mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS), the present study focused on trans-coumaric acid (trans-CA), which is isomerized by UV-A. Generation of ROS was expected during the isomerization of trans-CA. Trans-CA derivatives, in which the carboxyl group was modified with a methyl, n-butyl or phenyl group, thereby changing the interaction with the cellular membrane by quenching the anionic properties of the carboxyl group and changing the UV adsorption properties, were used. The photobactericidal activities of trans-CA derivatives were evaluated by using UV-A light (wavelength 350 to 385 nm). The number of surviving Escherichia coli NBRC12713 was determined by colony-forming assay. Derivative 4c, which was esterified with a phenyl group, reduced survival by more than 5.0-log at a dose of 7.4 J/cm(2) and by 3.2-log at a dose of 4.9 J/cm(2). This synergistic activity may have been caused by the absorption of photon energy from UV-A, which is attributable to the UV spectrum of 4c. The photobactericidal activity was comparable to that of riboflavin, a known photo-activated agent. Isomerized molecules serve as a promising lead for improving the photobactericidal activity of UV-A by activating molecule-mediated ROS generation.

Synergistic Photobactericidal Activity Based on Ultraviolet-A Irradiation and Ferulic Acid Derivatives.

Ultraviolet-A (UV-A)-mediated bactericidal activity was enhanced by combined treatment with trans-ferulic acid (trans-FA, compound 1) or its derivatives. Derivative compounds 4 and 10 contain a phenyl group or an l-tyrosine HCl tert-butyl ester, respectively, linked to the carboxyl group of trans-FA. Of the three compounds, 10 exhibited the highest synergistic activity in a photobactericidal assay based on treating Escherichia coli with a derivative compound and UV-A irradiation (wavelength 350-385 nm). Inactivation of viable cells at a 4.9 J cm(-2) UV-A fluence increased from 1.90 to 5.19 logs in the presence of 10 (100 µm); a 4.95-log inactivation was achieved with 10 (5 µm) and a 7.4 J cm(-2) UV-A fluence. Addition of antioxidants significantly suppressed photosynergistic bactericidal activity, suggesting that reactive oxygen species (ROS) are involved in the combined bactericidal mechanism. Flow cytometry revealed that combined treatment with UV-A and compound 10, which showed the highest photobactericidal activity, generates an excess of oxidative radicals in bacterial cells. The bactericidal activity of compound 10 may be due to electrostatic interaction between the molecule's cationic moiety and the cell surface, followed by amplification of ROS generation in the cells.