STUDY ON ANTI-MICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF GENISTEIN AND ITS MECHANISM / 营养学报

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the anti-microbial activity of genistein and its mechanism. Method The anti-microbial experiment was carried out by utilizing scanning and transmission electron microscope(SEM and TEM) ,and further analyzing the respiratory metabolism and change of SDS-PAGE protein spectra. Results Genistein could inhibit several kinds of bacteria obviously.The erose structures such as rugae and bubbles were observed on the surface of cells by SEM after 24h. Moreover,with TEM,we detected the shrinkage of cytoplasm,the plasmolyses,and then the breach of wall and membrane along with the outflow of protoplasm in Staphylococcus aureus treated with genistein for 4h,14h and 24h respectively. Notablely the respiratory inhibition experiment revealed that the genistein mainly inhibits the TCA cycle of bacteria. Besides,the SDS-PAGE elucidated that the total expression of proteins was decreased in the cell treated with genistein,and especially the larger proteins were reduced with 90.1%. Conclusion Genistein showed obvious anti-microbial activity to Staphylococcus aureus. It could destroy the integrity of cell wall and membrane,prevent the respiratory metabolism and protein synthesis of the bacteria.