Abstract
The bactericidal action of iron(II)-ascorbate complex ([Fe(II)-ascorbate]) on Escherichia coli was previously reported. Here we describe the action of [Fe(II)-ascorbate] on Lactobacillus casei, Serratia marcescens, Proteus vulgaris and Morganella morganii. Many factors affected the bactericidal action of [Fe(II)-ascorbate]. In general, the bubbling of nitrogen gas through the reaction mixture and the addition to the reaction mixture of H_2O_2, reducing agents, Cu^<2+>, Fe^<3+>, chelating agents or radical scavengers prevented the action. Ascorbate enhanced the action. Catalase and superoxide dismutase had little or no effect on the action. These findings are similar to those obtained with E. coli, suggesting that the bactericidal action of [Fe(II)-ascorbate] is fundamentally the same in these bacteria. In the case of M. morganii that was the least sensitive to [Fe(II)^ascorbate], Cu^<2+> enhanced the action and ascorbate prevented the one, suggesting that there are some differences in the bactericidial action between M. morganii and the other four bacteria including E. coli.
