Reuterin: A Broad Spectrum Antimicrobial Agent and Its Applications

Probiotic bacteria play a vital role in living animals including human health by helping in the digestion of foods and boosting the immune system. Hence, microbes with better properties are of interest. Some probiotic bacteria produce specific substances that can inhibit or inactivate other organisms which compete for nutrients and space. The β-hydroxypropionaldehyde (3-HPA) known as reuterin is produced by Lactobacillus reuteri. It has broad antimicrobial activity against potentially harmful microorganisms without adversely affecting the beneficial gut flora. Its production occurs under the anaerobic condition where the enzyme glycerol dehydratase facilitates the conversion of glycerol to reuterin by removing water molecules. The structure of reuterin contains both hydroxy and aldehyde functional groups. Reuterin is a low molecular weight water-soluble compound resilient to proteolytic and lipolytic enzymes, and remains active at a varied pH and hence finds applications in industries. This chapter focuses on reuterin production, stability, antimicrobial activity, and its applications.