Menthol's disruptive effects on kanamycin-resistant Escherichia coli energy metabolism and ion fluxes.

The presented study aimed to investigate the antibacterial activity of menthol-the main component of one of the widespread plants of the Lamiaceae family-Mentha arvensis. To investigate the mode of action of menthol, we studied its influence on kanamycin-resistant E. coli pARG-25 and wild-type E. coli BW25113 strains. For this, the effect of menthol on ATPase activity, proton and potassium fluxes, and intracellular pH was investigated under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. The results showed that menthol influences these parameters in a concentration- and condition-dependent way. It likely interacts with FoF1-ATPase and other systems involved in energy-generating processes and ion transport, disrupting the bacterial metabolism of both antibiotic-resistant and -susceptible strains.