Table 1.

Proposed mechanisms for the antimicrobial effect of CHT.

Proposed CHT Action	Effect	Microorganism	References
Interaction with the phospholipids of microbial cell plasma membrane (CHT concentration <0.2 mg/mL)	Agglutination	gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria.	[33]
Interaction with the phospholipids of microbial cell plasma membrane	Disruption of bacterial cell membrane with leakage of intracellular substances	E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus	[34]
Interaction with proteins of microbial cell plasma membrane	Disruption of bacterial cell membrane integrity	E. coli, Staphylococcus aureus	[35]
Interaction with negatively charged components of the cell surface	Inhibition of H+-ATPase activity and chemiosmotic-driven transport	Rhizopus stolonifer	[36]
Interaction with microbial cell wall components	Disruption of cell wall integrity and alteration of intracellular ultrastructure	Streptococcus sobrinus, Neisseria subflava, Candida albicans	[37]
Chelation of metals	Inhibition of toxin production and microbial growth	Alternaria alternata	[38]
Interaction with the charged phosphate groups of DNA/RNA	Inhibition of the synthesis of mRNA and proteins	E. coli	[39]
Deposition on the bacterial surface (high m.w. CHT)	Blockage of nutrient flow	E. coli, Bacillus cereus	[40]