Imported High-quality Natamycin,Affected by pH Value

The antibacterial effect of natamycin in a neutral or alkaline environment is relatively weak. The specific reasons are as follows:

The antibacterial activity is affected by the pH value: Natamycin is a polyene macrolide antibiotic, and its antibacterial activity is related to the lactone ring and polyene chain in its molecular structure. In an acidic environment, the natamycin molecule can better maintain its active structure, thus exerting a strong antibacterial effect. However, in a neutral or alkaline environment, some changes may occur in its molecular structure, leading to a decrease in activity. For example, under alkaline conditions, the lactone ring of natamycin may be opened, which affects its binding ability to the cell membrane and, in turn, reduces the antibacterial effect.

The permeability of the cell membrane changes: The charge and permeability of the microbial cell membrane will be affected by the environmental pH value. In a neutral or alkaline environment, the permeability of the microbial cell membrane may change, making it difficult for natamycin to enter the cell and exert its function. In addition, a neutral or alkaline environment may affect the receptor proteins on the microbial cell membrane, reducing the binding affinity between natamycin and the receptors, thereby weakening the antibacterial effect.

However, although the antibacterial effect of natamycin in a neutral or alkaline environment is not as good as that in an acidic environment, in some specific application scenarios, it is still possible to exert a certain antibacterial effect by appropriately adjusting the usage conditions or compounding it with other antibacterial agents.