Structural Requirements of Benzofuran Derivatives Dehydro- δ - and Dehydro- ε -Viniferin for Antimicrobial Activity Against the Foodborne Pathogen Listeria monocytogenes

In a recent study, we investigated the antimicrobial activity of a collection of resveratrol-derived monomers and dimers against a series of foodborne pathogens. Out of the tested molecules, dehydro- -viniferin and dehydro- -viniferin emerged as the most promising derivatives. To define the structural elements essential to the antimicrobial activity against the foodborne pathogen Scott A as a model Gram-positive microorganism, the synthesis of a series of simplified benzofuran-containing derivatives was carried out. The systematic removal of the aromatic moieties of the parent molecules allowed a deeper insight into the most relevant structural features affecting the activity. While the overall structure of compound could not be altered without a substantial loss of antimicrobial activity, the structural simplification of compound (minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) 16 µg/mL, minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) >512 µg/mL) led to the analogue with increased activity (MIC 8 µg/mL, MBC 64 µg/mL).