Effect of phenolic monomers on the growth and beta-glucosidase activity of Bacteroides ruminicola and on the carboxymethylcellulase, beta-glucosidase, and xylanase activities of Bacteroides succinogenes.

trans-p-Coumaric acid inhibited the growth of Bacteroides ruminicola on both cellobiose and glucose, while trans-ferulic acid and vanillin retarded growth. The phenolic monomers varied in their potential to inhibit the Bacteroides succinogenes beta-glucosidase, carboxymethylcellulase, and xylanase, with p-coumaric acid being the most inhibitory. The B. ruminicola beta-glucosidase was inhibited less than 10% by all three compounds.