Antimicrobial activity of long-chain (E)-3-alken-2-ones.

(E)-3-tridecen-2-one, a compound identified from the interdigital glands of black-tailed deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), has been shown to inhibit the growth of bacteria and fungi. Homologues of (E)-3-tridecen-2-one were prepared and screened for antimicrobial activity. For the fungus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of (E)-3-Tetradecen-2-one was 12.5 microg/mL, and for the bacteria, Propionibacterium acnes, the MIC of (E)-3-heptadecen-2-one was 3.13 microg/mL.