This study demonstrated the effect of positional isomerism of benzoic acid derivatives against E. coli ATCC 700728 with the serotype O157. The addition of hydroxyl and methoxyl substituents weakened the effect of acids against E. coli with respect to benzoic acid (except 2-hydroxybenzoic). The connection of the hydroxyl group at the second carbon atom in the benzoic ring reduced the time needed to kill bacterial cells. Phenolic acids with methoxyl substitutes limited the biofilm formation by E. coli to a greater extent than hydroxyl derivatives. The most significant influence on the antibacterial activity of phenolic acids has the type of substituent attached to the benzoic ring, their number, and finally the number of carbon atoms at which the functional group is located.

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