Ordering Natamycin Raw Materials,factors affecting bacteriostatic effect

The antibacterial effect of natamycin is affected by various factors, which are as follows:

pH value: Natamycin has a better antibacterial effect in acidic and neutral environments. The optimal pH range is generally between 3 and 7. When the pH value is higher than 8 or lower than 2, its antibacterial activity will decrease significantly. This is because extreme pH values will affect the molecular structure and charge distribution of natamycin, and further change its ability to interact with the cell membrane and its ability to enter the cell, thus affecting the antibacterial effect.

Temperature: Natamycin has good stability at low temperatures. As the temperature rises, its solubility will increase, but too high a temperature will lead to a decrease in its activity. Generally speaking, it can exert a better antibacterial effect in an environment of 25-30°C. If the temperature exceeds 50°C, its antibacterial effect may be significantly affected. This is because high temperatures may cause changes in the structure of natamycin, damaging its active sites and making it difficult for it to bind to target cells and exert its antibacterial effect.

Action time: As the action time prolongs, the antibacterial effect of natamycin usually increases. This is because it takes a certain amount of time to adsorb onto the surface of microbial cells, penetrate the cell wall and cell membrane, and bind to the target sites inside the cells, thereby inhibiting the growth and reproduction of microorganisms. For example, in food preservation, a short action time may only inhibit the growth of some microorganisms, while extending the action time can more effectively control the number of microorganisms and achieve a better preservation effect.

Microorganism species: The antibacterial effect of natamycin varies among different species of microorganisms. It has a strong inhibitory effect on molds and yeasts, but a relatively weak inhibitory effect on bacteria. This is because the components of the cell membranes of molds and yeasts are different from those of bacteria. Natamycin can more easily bind to ergosterol in the cell membranes of molds and yeasts to form complexes, thereby changing the permeability of the cell membranes, causing the leakage of substances inside the cells and inhibiting their growth. Since the cell membranes of bacteria do not contain ergosterol, the inhibitory effect of natamycin on bacteria is relatively poor.

Usage concentration: Within a certain range, the higher the concentration of natamycin, the better the antibacterial effect. However, when the concentration reaches a certain level, continuing to increase the concentration may not significantly enhance the antibacterial effect. This is because when the concentration of natamycin is low, the number of molecules that can bind to microbial cells is limited. As the concentration increases, more natamycin molecules can act on the cells, thus enhancing the antibacterial effect. However, when the concentration is too high, it may be restricted by other factors, such as the saturation of the absorption of natamycin by microbial cells, resulting in the antibacterial effect not increasing significantly with the increase in concentration.

Other substances in the environment: Some substances in the environment may affect the antibacterial effect of natamycin. For example, organic substances such as proteins and fats may bind to it, reducing its free concentration and thus affecting its antibacterial activity. In addition, some metal ions such as calcium ions and magnesium ions may also interact with natamycin, changing its molecular structure or affecting its binding to microbial cells, and further affecting the antibacterial effect.