Curtiellas, Vicente, Ledea, Oscar, Rodríguez, Sandra, Ancheta, Odelsa, Echevarría, Mayelin, Sánchez, Elaine, and Fernández, Irán
The action mechanism of ozonized vegetable oils on microorganisms is still unknown. According to the oxidant nature of its main components, damages are expected on unsaturated lipids and proteins containing sulfhydryl groups of microorganisms. There is no evidence of effects induced by ozonized vegetable oils on bacterial cell membrane, which is one of the primary attack sites of several antimicrobial agents with a high oxidant power. The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of ozonized sunflower oil (OLEOZON®) on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 strain, considering viability, cell membrane permeability and possible ultrastructural changes. At 1, 3, 10, and 30 min of exposition to OLEOZON® a microorganism susceptibility study was done. The content of potassium ions released to media by bacterial cells was employed as a criterion of alteration of the cell membrane permeability. Analysis of transmission electron microscopy to samples exposed to OLEOZON® during 30 min and 24 h were applied to evaluate possible ultrastructural changes. OLEOZON® showed a strong bactericidal effect on Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 strain, which was manifested in a reduction of the viability of more than 90 %, since the first minute of exposition. OLEOZON® modified the cell membrane permeability of Staphylococcus aureus strain since a reduction of intracellular potassium content took place after the lost of cell viability. This drug altered Staphylococcus aureus ultrastructure causing a reduction of cytoplasmic content; nevertheless it did not affect the bacterial cell envelope integrity. The intensity of changes in viability, cell permeability and ultrastructure on Staphylococcus aureus increased with the exposure time to OLEOZON®. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]