Sophorolipids are extracellular glycolipids, produced mainly by yeast Candida bombicola, composed of a disaccharide sophorose (O β-D-glucopyranosyl-2-1-β-D-glucopyranose) linked by a glycosidic bound to the terminal or sub-terminal carbon of a fatty acid chain. Because of these structural characteristics, sophorolipids have been reported with several applications, which are directly related to the predominance of their acidic and lactonic forms. Sophorolipids are the most promising and attractive biosurfactant, highlighting its antimicrobial action against Gram-positive and negative bacteria. The antimicrobial activities of sophorolipids is due the mechanism of changes or rupture in the cellular membrane, inducing the outpouring of their cytoplasmic contents and the consequent death of the pathogen. This surfactant can be used as an alternative for the substitution of conventional drugs.
Key words: Biosurfactants, Candida bombicola, Antimicrobial agent, Membrane-damaging activity, Growth inhibition mechanism.
|
