Bactericidal effects of fatty acids and monoglycerides on Helicobacter pylori

The susceptibility of Salmonella spp., Escherichia coli and Helicobacter pylori to fatty acids and monoglycerides was studied. None of the lipids showed significant antibacterial activity against Salmonella spp. and E coli but eight of 12 lipids tested showed high activity against H. pylori, monocaprin and monolaurin being the most active. The high activity of monoglycerides against H. pylori suggests that they may be useful as active ingredients in pharmaceutical formulations. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. and International Society of Chemotherapy. All rights reserved.