Antibacterial and antiseptic composition containing methylbutanediol as an active ingredient, and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals or quasi drugs containing the composition
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an antimicrobial/preservative agent with sufficient antibacterial/anti-mold activity; and to provide cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, or quasi drugs containing the antimicrobial/preservative agent.SOLUTION: The invention provides an antimicrobial/preservative composition containing, as an active ingredient, methylbutanediol represented by general formula (1): (where either one of Y and Z is a hydroxyl group and the other one is a hydrogen atom, R represents an alkyl or alkanoyl group of carbon number 3-16.)SELECTED DRAWING: None