Abstract
Sulfite acted as a strong antibacterial agent both to Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. With 1mM sulfite in the growth medium, the lag phases of these two microbes were remarkably extended, especially in the lower pH range of growth.
Riboflavin was found to be effective for growth restoration of Staphylococcus aureus and Bacillus subtilis. With 1μg/ml to 10μg/ml of Riboflavin, these microbes were not only free from growth repression by sulfite but rather their growth was stimulated. The extent of growth restoration effect of Riboflavin depended on the concentration of sulfite and Riboflavin, pH and addition time of the growth medium. Neither sulfite or Riboflavin were effective for growth repression or restoration to the gram-negative bacteria tested. Growth inhibition of Candida albicans with sulfite was restored by adding thiamine to the culture medium.
