| Abstract: | A review of the literature showed that 2-amino-imidazoles have not benn taken into consideration as antimicrobial agents. Our preliminary data indicating that 2-amino-4(5)-phenylimidazole possessed a moderate in vitro activity prompted us to prepare a limited series of 2-amino-4(5)-arylimidazoles and of some related derivatives. In vitro atimicrobial screening gave evidence of a broad spectrum activity for some of them. Several compounds have been tested also against S. mutans. In particular, 2-amino-4(5)-(4-biphenylyl)-imidazole hydrochloride showed substantial activity in this test, confirmed also against defferent representative strains of S. mutans. When submitted to a plaque inhibition test, it strongly inhibited the plaque forming ability of a S. mutans strain. |
