6-Methylsulfinylhexyl Isothiocyanate and Its Homologues as Food-originated Compounds with Antibacterial Activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

  Cruciferae plants, banana and coriander each showed antibacterial activity. The highest activity among the foodstuffs tested was found in the stems of wasabi. An ethereal extract from wasabi stems had potent antibacterial activity and we isolated the active compound from the extract. Instrumental analysis identified the compound as 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate. Some homologues of 6-methylsulfinylhexyl isothiocyanate were also active against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.