Antimicrobial activity of sulfur compounds derived from cabbage.

Selected sulfur compounds found in cabbage and its fermentation product, sauerkraut, were tested for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against growth of 15 species of bacteria and 4 species of yeasts. S-Methyl-L-cysteine sulfoxide, sinigrin, and dimethyl sulfide at 500 ppm were not inhibitory to any of the bacteria and yeasts tested. Dimethyl disulfide at 500 ppm retarded some, but did not prevent growth of any of the test microorganisms. Dimethyl trisulfide had an MIC to bacteria of 200 ppm and to yeast of 20 ppm. Methyl methanethiosulfinate had an MIC between 50 and 200 ppm for all bacteria, and between 6 and 10 ppm for all yeasts tested. Methyl methanethiosulfonate had an MIC between 20 and 100 ppm for bacteria and between 50 and 500 ppm for yeasts. Allyl isothiocyanate had an MIC between 50 and 500 ppm for bacteria and between 1 and 4 ppm for yeasts. Methyl methanethiosulfinate was 10 to 100 times more inhibitory against Listeria monocytogenes at pH values of 5, 6, and 7 and was much less influenced by pH than was sodium benzoate.