Effects of Rhodomyrtus tomentosa extract on virulence factors of Candida albicans and human neutrophil function.

OBJECTIVE: Candida albicans has become a major problem of oral candidiasis due to increase in antibiotic resistance. Rhodomyrtus tomentosa, a medicinal plant possessing several phytochemical constituents, has been considered as a potential source of antimicrobial and immunomodulatory agents. The aim of this study was to investigate anti-virulence and immunostimulatory activity of R. tomentosa ethanolic leaf extract against C. albicans. METHODS: The effects of the extract on C. albicans were assessed on germ tube production, adherence of the organisms to surfaces, and biofilm. In addition, the effects of the extract on phagocytosis and killing activity of neutrophils against the pathogen were investigated. RESULTS: Suppression of germ tube production following 30 min exposure to the extract at 256 µg/mL was significantly increased in comparison with that of the unexposed cells (p < 0.05). The pathogens demonstrated a significant reduction in adherence ability to surfaces in a dose dependent manner, compared with the control (p < 0.05). At 48 h, the extract at 512-1024 µg/mL significantly reduced biofilm forming ability of the organisms up to 42.31-64.58% (p < 0.05). Compared with the control group, a significant inhibition of mature biofilm after treated with the extract at 256 µg/mL was observed (p < 0.05). The extract at 50 µg/mL significantly enhanced phagocytosis and killing activity of neutrophils against the organism, compared with the control (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that R. tomentosa extract displayed a dual mode of action, inhibiting virulence factors of C. albicans and enhancing neutrophil functions. Further pharmaceutical development of the extract might be useful as an alternative therapeutic agent against oral candidiasis.

Evaluation of phytochemicals from medicinal plants of Myrtaceae family on virulence factor production by Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Virulence factors regulated by quorum sensing (QS) play a critical role in the pathogenesis of an opportunistic human pathogen, Pseudomonas aeruginosa in causing infections to the host. Hence, in the present work, the anti-virulence potential of the medicinal plant extracts and their derived phytochemicals from Myrtaceae family was evaluated against P. aeruginosa. In the preliminary screening of the tested medicinal plant extracts, Syzygium jambos and Syzygium antisepticum demonstrated a maximum inhibition in QS-dependent violacein pigment production by Chromobacterium violaceum DMST 21761. These extracts demonstrated an inhibitory activity over a virulence factor, pyoverdin, production by P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis revealed the presence of 23 and 12 phytochemicals from the extracts of S. jambos and S. antisepticum respectively. Three top-ranking phytochemicals, including phytol, ethyl linoleate and methyl linolenate, selected on the basis of docking score in molecular docking studies lowered virulence factors such as pyoverdin production, protease and haemolytic activities of P. aeruginosa to a significant level. In addition, the phytochemicals reduced rhamnolipid production by the organism. The work demonstrated an importance of plant-derived compounds as anti-virulence drugs to conquer P. aeruginosa virulence towards the host.

Antifungal potential of eugenyl acetate against clinical isolates of Candida species.

The study evaluated the efficiency of eugenyl acetate (EA), a phytochemical in clove essential oil, against clinical isolates of Candida albicans, Candida parapsilosis, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of EA against Candida isolates were in the range between 0.1% and 0.4% (v/v). Spot assay further confirmed the susceptibility of Candida isolates to the compound upon treatment with respective 1 × MIC. Growth profile measured in time kill study evidence that the compound at 1 × MIC and 1/2 × MIC retarded the growth of Candida cells, divulging the fungicidal activity. Light microscopic observation demonstrated that upon treated with EA, rough cell morphology, cell damage, and fragmented patterns were observed in C. albicans, C. parapsilosis, C. tropicalis, and C. glabrata. Furthermore, unusual morphological changes of the organism were observed in scanning electron microscopic study. Therefore, it is validated that the compound could cause cell damage resulting in the cell death of Candida clinical isolates. Eventually, the compound at sub-MIC (0.0125% v/v) significantly inhibited serum-induced germ tube formation by C. albicans. Eugenyl acetate inhibited biofilm forming ability of the organisms as well as reduced the adherence of Candida cells to HaCaT keratinocytes cells. In addition, upon treatment with EA, the phagocytic activity of macrophages was increased significantly against C. albicans (P < 0.05). The results demonstrated the potential of EA as a valuable phytochemical to fight against emerging Candida infections.

Rhodomyrtone as a potential anti-proliferative and apoptosis inducing agent in HaCaT keratinocyte cells.

Psoriasis is a skin disease associated with hyperproliferation and abnormal differentiation of keratinocytes. Available approaches using synthetic drugs for the treatment of severe psoriasis may cause side effects. Alternatively, plant-derived compounds are now receiving much attention as alternative candidates for the treatment of psoriasis. In this study, the effects of rhodomyrtone, a bioactive plant extract isolated from Rhodomyrtus tomentosa leaves on the proliferation, growth arrest, and apoptosis of HaCaT keratinocytes were investigated. Percentage anti-proliferative activity of rhodomyrtone on HaCaT cells at concentrations of 2-32µg/ml after 24, 48, and 72h ranged from 13.62-61.61%, 50.59-80.16%, and 61.82-85.34%, respectively. In a scratch assay, rhodomyrtone at 2 and 4µg/ml significantly delayed closure of a wound by up to 61.78%, and 71.65%, respectively, after 24h incubation. HaCaT keratinocytes treated with rhodomyrtone showed chromatin condensation and fragmentation of nuclei when stained with Hoechst 33342. This indicated that rhodomyrtone induced apoptosis in the keratinocytes. In addition, flow cytometric analysis demonstrated an increase in the percentage of apoptosis of keratinocytes after treatment with rhodomyrtone at 2-32µg/ml from 1.2-10%, 8.2-35.4%, and 21.0-77.8% after 24, 48, and 72h, respectively, compared with the control. To further develop the compound as a potential anti-psoriasis agent, a rhodomyrtone formulation was prepared and subjected to skin irritation tests in rabbits. The formulation caused no skin irritation including such as erythema and edema. The results indicated that rhodomyrtone had the potential as a promising candidate for further development as a natural anti-psoriasis agent.

Anti-virulence potential of eugenyl acetate against pathogenic bacteria of medical importance.

Considering the role of virulence factors in bacterial pathogenicity, interfering with the virulence factor production could afford a novel way for the treatment of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria. In the present study, an effect of eugenyl acetate (EA), a well-known phytochemical from Syzygium aromaticum (clove bud) was assessed for its anti-virulence potential against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive pathogens. Eugenyl acetate at 150 µg/ml, significantly inhibited virulence factor production such as pyocyanin and pyoverdin by Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853 up to 9.4 (P < 0.01) and 3.7 fold (P < 0.01), respectively. In addition, protease activity of P. aeruginosa was significantly reduced upon treatment with EA (P < 0.05). The test compound (150 µg/ml) lowered haemolytic activity of Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 up to tenfold (P < 0.01). Furthermore, a decrease in staphyloxanthin pigment production was observed when S. aureus cells were treated with increasing concentrations of EA (37.5-150 µg/ml). The test compound at 75 µg/ml exhibited quorum sensing inhibitory potential in inhibiting violacein production by Chromobacterium violaceum DMST 21761 up to 27.7 fold (P < 0.01). Thus, results of the present work reveal the potential of EA as an alternative candidate to control pathogenicity of both Gram-negative and Gram-positive organisms.

Antipathogenic potential of Rhizophora spp. against the quorum sensing mediated virulence factors production in drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

Quorum sensing (QS) is a process of cell-cell communication mechanism occurs between the bacterial cells through the secretary signal molecules. This QS mechanism has been shown to control over the expression of various genes responsible for the production of virulence factors in several bacterial pathogens. Hence, the present study was intended to evaluate the antipathogenic potential of mangrove trees of the genus Rhizophora against the QS dependent virulence factors production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, clinical isolates CI-I (GU447237) and CI-II (GU447238). The methanol extract of Rhizophora apiculata and R. mucronata (1 mg/ml) showed significant inhibition against QS dependent virulence factors production such as LasA protease, LasB elastase, total protease, pyocyanin pigment production and biofilm formation in P. aeruginosa PAO1, CI-I and CI-II. This study for the first time, reports the quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) potential of Rhizophora spp. against P. aeruginosa infections.

Anti-quorum sensing potential of the mangrove Rhizophora annamalayana.

The present study was carried out to assess the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) activity of bark extract obtained from the mangrove plant Rhizophora annamalayana Kathir. against Gram-negative bacteria. In microtitre plate assay, the bark extract at a concentration of 1 mg/ml inhibited the QS-dependent violacein production in Chromobacterium violaceum ATCC 12472. Further, the QS-dependent bioluminescence production in the aquatic bacterial pathogen Vibrio harveyi MTCC 3438 was also reduced to the level of 99 % when treated with the same concentration of the extract. Gas chromatography-mass spectrum analysis identified the presence of seven different chemical constituents, 1H-purin-6-amine, cycloheptasiloxane, cyclooctasiloxane, cyclononasiloxane, cyclononasiloxane octadecamethyl, cyclodecasiloxane eicosamethyl and 1,1,1,5,7,7,7-heptamethyl-3,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)tetrasiloxane. The molecular docking analysis of the identified compounds revealed that the compounds cyclononasiloxane octadecamethyl and cyclodecasiloxane eicosamethyl exhibited the best docking energy with the QS receptors of C. violaceum and V. harveyi with that of the natural ligand N -hexanoyl- L -homoserine lactone (C6-HSL) and furanosyl borate diester (AI-2). Similarly, another compound 1,1,1,5,7,7,7-heptamethyl-3,3-bis(trimethylsiloxy)tetrasiloxane showed best docking energy only against C6-HSL. Thus, the results of the present study divulge the activity of R. annamalayana bark extract to interfere with bacterial QS.

Quorum sensing inhibition in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 by antagonistic compound phenylacetic acid.

In Pseudomonas aeruginosa, quorum sensing (QS) autoinducer known as acyl homoserine lactone (AHL) acts as a key regulator in the expression of pathogenic characters. In this work, the efficiency of phenylacetic acid (PAA) in reducing the production of AHL-dependent factors in P. aeruginosa PAO1 was studied. PAA at a concentration of 200 µg ml(-1) displayed significant reduction in QS-dependent pyocyanin, exopolysaccharide, and protease and elastase production in PAO1. In swimming inhibition assay, PAA-treated PAO1 cells exhibited poor motility in swimming agar plate. In in vivo analysis, PAO1-preinfected Caenorhabditis elegans showed enhanced survival when treated with PAA. PAA at the QS inhibitory concentration showed no growth inhibitory activity on PAO1. Results of the present study revealed the potential of PAA as antipathogenic compound to prevent QS-dependent pathogenicity of P. aeruginosa.

2,5-Piperazinedione inhibits quorum sensing-dependent factor production in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1.

The effects of 2,5-piperazinedione in reducing the production of quorum sensing (QS)-dependent factors in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 were assessed both in vitro and in vivo. 2,5-Piperazinedione exhibited a 69% reduction in the azocasein-degrading proteolytic activity and a 48% reduction in the elastolytic activity of PAO1. Further, it showed 85% and 96% reduction in the production of pyocyanin and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of PAO1, respectively. In the swimming inhibition assay, 2,5-piperazinedione-treated PAO1 cells exhibited poor swimming motility in swim agar medium. In the in vivo analysis, an enhanced survival of PAO1-preinfected Caenorhabditis elegans was observed after treatment with 2,5-piperazinedione. Regarding the mode of action, in the molecular docking analysis, 2,5-piperazinedione interacts with the amino acid residue of the LasR receptor protein required for binding the natural ligand N -3-oxododecanoyl-l-homoserine lactone (3-oxo-C12-HSL). This demonstrates the probability of 2,5-piperazinedione to interfere with the binding process of 3-oxo-C12-HSL to its receptor protein. Thus, the findings of the present study reveal the potential of 2,5-piperazinedione in reducing the QS-dependent phenotypic features of PAO1.