Antifungal activity of octyl gallate: structural criteria and mode of action.

Octyl gallate (3,4,5-trihydroxybenzoate) was found to possess antifungal activity against Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zygosaccharomyces bailii, in addition to its potent antioxidant activity. Catechol moiety is essential to elicit this activity. The primary fungicidal activity of octyl gallate comes from its ability to act as a nonionic surface-active agent (surfactant). The length of the alkyl chain is not a major contributor but plays an important role in eliciting the activity.