Planta Medica, Table of Contents Planta Med 2013; 79(09): 768-774DOI: 10.1055/s-0032-1328555 Biological and Pharmacological Activity Original Papers Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New YorkProtective Effects of α-Tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid against Cardol-Induced Cell Death and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation in Staphylococcus aureus Authors Author Affiliations Wakae Murata 1 Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka City, Japan Toshio Tanaka 1 Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka City, Japan Isao Kubo 2 Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, California, USA Ken-ichi Fujita 1 Graduate School of Science, Osaka City University, Osaka City, Japan Recommend Article Abstract Buy Article(opens in new window) Abstract Cardol (C15 : 3), isolated from cashew (Anacardium occidentale L.) nut shell liquid, has been shown to exhibit bactericidal activity against various strains of Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-resistant strains. The maximum level of reactive oxygen species generation was detected at around the minimum bactericidal concentration of cardol, while reactive oxygen species production drastically decreased at doses above the minimum bactericidal concentration. The primary response for bactericidal activity around the bactericidal concentration was noted to primarily originate from oxidative stress such as intracellular reactive oxygen species generation. High doses of cardol (C15 : 3) were shown to induce leakage of K+ from S. aureus cells, which may be related to the decrease in reactive oxygen species. Antioxidants such as α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid restricted reactive oxygen species generation and restored cellular damage induced by the lipid. Cardol (C15 : 3) overdose probably disrupts the native membrane-associated function as it acts as a surfactant. The maximum antibacterial activity of cardols against S. aureus depends on their log P values (partition coefficient in octanol/water) and is related to their similarity to those of anacardic acids isolated from the same source. Key words Key wordsbactericidal effect - cardol - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus - membrane injury - reactive oxygen species Full Text References References 1 Kubo I, Komatsu S, Ochi M. Molluscicides from the cashew Anacardium occidentale and their large-scale isolation. J Agric Food Chem 1986; 34: 970-973 2 Himejima M, Kubo I. Antimicrobial agents from the cashew Anacardium occidentale (Anacardiaceae) nut shell oil. J Agric Food Chem 1991; 39: 418-421 3 Kubo I, Muroi H, Kubo A, Chaudhuri SK, Sanchez Y, Ogura T. Antimicrobial agents from Heterotheca inuloides . Planta Med 1994; 60: 218-221 4 Chesney PJ. Clinical aspects and spectrum of illness of toxic shock syndrome: overview. Rev Infect Dis 1989; 11: S1-S7 5 Al-Masaud SB, Day MJ, Russel AD. 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