Synergy among thymol, eugenol, berberine, cinnamaldehyde and streptomycin against planktonic and biofilm-associated food-borne pathogens

Cuminaldehyde Potentiates Antiproteolytic Peptide Efficacy via Parallel Pathways of Enhanced Inner Membrane-Damaging Activity and Inhibition of Bacterial Energy Metabolism

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) offer potential as antibiotic alternatives, but high cost, off-site cytotoxicity, and poor stability limit their application. Combining AMPs with adjuvants holds promise in surmounting these limitations. Among potentiators, terpenoids account for the highest proportion, yet their potential to enhance the AMPs efficacy and underlying mechanism remain unclear. Hence, we investigated the potential of monoterpenoids to enhance the efficacy of antiproteolytic AMPs N1 (NalAArIILrWrFR). Cuminaldehyde potentiated N1 activity against all tested strains, with FICI from 0.375 to 0.094. N1/cuminaldehyde combination also worked synergistically against drug-resistant bacteria, exhibited a low incidence of resistance development, and was not synergistically toxic to eukaryotes. Furthermore, cuminaldehyde enhanced N1 stability in salts, serum, and proteases. Mechanistically, cuminaldehyde enhanced the inner-membrane-damaging activity of N1 and inhibited bacterial energy metabolism. Finally, cuminaldehyde enhanced the efficacy of N1 against ETEC K88-induced enteritis in mice. Collectively, cuminaldehyde may be a promising N1 adjuvant to combat bacterial infections and circumvent antibiotic resistance.

New Strategy for the Covalent Immobilisation of Phenolic Compounds on Silica Particles to Fight Against Foodborne Pathogens

The immobilisation of essential oil components (EOCs) on food-grade supports is a promising strategy for preserving liquid foods without the drawbacks of direct EOC addition such as poor solubility, high volatility, and sensory alterations. This study presents a novel method for covalently immobilising EOCs, specifically thymol and carvacrol, on SiO2 particles (5-15 µm) using the Mannich reaction. This approach simplifies conventional covalent immobilisation techniques by reducing the steps and reagents while maintaining antimicrobial efficacy and preventing compound migration. The antimicrobial effectiveness of the EOC-SiO2 system, applied as an additive, was tested against foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli, Salmonella enterica, Staphylococcus aureus, and Listeria monocytogenes) inoculated into phosphate buffer solution and fresh apple juice. The results showed high antimicrobial activity, with inactivation exceeding 4-log reductions, depending on the EOC type, target microorganism, and medium. Moreover, the addition of functionalised particles did not affect the juice organoleptic properties. This study demonstrates that the Mannich reaction is an effective method for developing antimicrobial systems based on the covalent immobilisation of EOCs on silica particles, and offers a practical solution for food preservation without compromising food quality.

Antibacterial phenolic compounds from the flowering plants of Asia and the Pacific: coming to the light

CONTEXT

The emergence of pan-resistant bacteria requires the development of new antibiotics and antibiotic potentiators.

OBJECTIVE

This review identifies antibacterial phenolic compounds that have been identified in Asian and Pacific Angiosperms from 1945 to 2023 and analyzes their strengths and spectra of activity, distributions, molecular masses, solubilities, modes of action, structures-activities, as well as their synergistic effects with antibiotics, toxicities, and clinical potential.

METHODS

All data in this review was compiled from Google Scholar, PubMed, Science Direct, Web of Science, and library search; other sources were excluded. We used the following combination of keywords: 'Phenolic compound', 'Plants', and 'Antibacterial'. This produced 736 results. Each result was examined and articles that did not contain information relevant to the topic or coming from non-peer-reviewed journals were excluded. Each of the remaining 467 selected articles was read critically for the information that it contained.

RESULTS

Out of ∼350 antibacterial phenolic compounds identified, 44 were very strongly active, mainly targeting the cytoplasmic membrane of Gram-positive bacteria, and with a molecular mass between 200 and 400 g/mol. 2-Methoxy-7-methyljuglone, [6]-gingerol, anacardic acid, baicalin, vitexin, and malabaricone A and B have the potential to be developed as antibacterial leads.

CONCLUSIONS

Angiosperms from Asia and the Pacific provide a rich source of natural products with the potential to be developed as leads for treating bacterial infections.

Bioactivity of Eugenol: A Potential Antibiotic Adjuvant with Minimal Ecotoxicological Impact

Combining commercial antibiotics with adjuvants to lower their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) is vital in combating antimicrobial resistance. Evaluating the ecotoxicity of such compounds is crucial due to environmental and health risks. Here, eugenol was assessed as an adjuvant for 7 commercial antibiotics against 14 pathogenic bacteria in vitro, also examining its acute ecotoxicity on various soil and water organisms (microbiota, Vibrio fischeri, Daphnia magna, Eisenia foetida, and Allium cepa). Using microdilution methods, checkerboard assays, and kinetic studies, the MICs for eugenol were determined together with the nature of its combinations with antibiotics against bacteria, some unexposed to eugenol previously. The lethal dose for the non-target organisms was also determined, as well as the Average Well Color Development and the Community-Level Physiological Profiling for soil and water microbiota. Our findings indicate that eugenol significantly reduces MICs by 75 to 98%, which means that it could be a potent adjuvant. Ecotoxicological assessments showed eugenol to be less harmful to water and soil microbiota compared to studied antibiotics. While Vibrio fischeri and Daphnia magna were susceptible, Allium cepa and Eisenia foetida were minimally affected. Given that only 0.1% of eugenol is excreted by humans without metabolism, its environmental risk when used with antibiotics appears minimal.

Antibacterial effectiveness of trans-cinnamaldehyde against foodborne Enterobacteriaceae and its adjuvant effect with gentamicin

The Enterobacteriaceae family is recognized as a primary group of Gram-negative pathogens responsible for foodborne illnesses and is frequently associated with antibiotic resistance. The present study explores the natural-based compound trans-cinnamaldehyde (TC) against drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and its synergism with gentamicin (GEN) to address this issue. The research employs three strains of Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Enterobacter cloacae, previously isolated from shrimp. The antibacterial activity was evaluated by the disk diffusion method, microdilution test, kinetics of growth, and time-kill curve. In addition, the synergistic effect between TC/GEN was investigated by checkerboard assay. All strains showed sensitivity to TC with an inhibition zone diameter > 35 mm. The TC showed inhibitory and bactericidal action in the most tested bacteria around 625 μg/mL. Sub-inhibitory amounts (1/2 and 1/4 MIC) of TC interfered with the growth kinetics by lag phase extension and decreased the log phase. Time-kill curves show a reduction of viable cells after the first hour of TC treatment at bactericidal concentrations. The synergistic effect between TC/GEN was observed for E. coli and E. cloacae strains with FICi ranging from 0.15 to 0.50. These findings, therefore, suggest TC as a promising alternative in the fight against drug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae that can cause foodborne illnesses.

Enhancing Commercial Antibiotics with Trans-Cinnamaldehyde in Gram-Positive and Gram-Negative Bacteria: An In Vitro Approach

One strategy to mitigate the emergence of bacterial resistance involves reducing antibiotic doses by combining them with natural products, such as trans-cinnamaldehyde (CIN). The objective of this research was to identify in vitro combinations (CIN + commercial antibiotic (ABX)) that decrease the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of seven antibiotics against 14 different Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria, most of them classified as ESKAPE. MIC values were measured for all compounds using the broth microdilution method. The effect of the combinations on these microorganisms was analyzed through the checkboard assay to determine the type of activity (synergy, antagonism, or addition). This analysis was complemented with a kinetic study of the synergistic combinations. Fifteen synergistic combinations were characterized for nine of the tested bacteria. CIN demonstrated effectiveness in reducing the MIC of chloramphenicol, streptomycin, amoxicillin, and erythromycin (94-98%) when tested on Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, Pasteurella aerogenes, and Salmonella enterica, respectively. The kinetic study revealed that when the substances were tested alone at the MIC concentration observed in the synergistic combination, bacterial growth was not inhibited. However, when CIN and the ABX, for which synergy was observed, were tested simultaneously in combination at these same concentrations, the bacterial growth inhibition was complete. This demonstrates the highly potent in vitro synergistic activity of CIN when combined with commercial ABXs. This finding could be particularly beneficial in livestock farming, as this sector witnesses the highest quantities of antimicrobial usage, contributing significantly to antimicrobial resistance issues. Further research focused on this natural compound is thus warranted for this reason.

Synergistic Effect of Thymol-Ciprofloxacin Combination on Planktonic Cells and Biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic bacteria causing severe and life-threatening infections in individuals with weakened immune systems. P. aeruginosa forms antibiotic-resistant biofilms, rendering it challenging to treat; hence, alternate therapies are required to eliminate it. Treatment of infections using a combination of drugs is gaining momentum to combat drug-resistant pathogens, including P. aeruginosa. This study explores the synergistic effects of Thymol in combination with Ciprofloxacin, Amikacin and Colistin against planktonic cells and biofilm of P. aeruginosa. Thymol in combination with Ciprofloxacin yields the fractional inhibitory concentration index values 0.156 and 0.375 in P. aeruginosa strains, GC14 and ATCC 9027, respectively, highlighting a robust synergistic effect on both the planktonic and biofilm of P. aeruginosa. The results showed that Thymol (512 μg/mL) and Ciprofloxacin (0.125 μg/mL) were the most effective combination with 95 and 93.5% total biofilm inhibition in GC14 and PA27, respectively, compared to the Thymol (512 μg/mL) and Ciprofloxacin (0.125 μg/mL) alone. Our findings suggest that the combinations of Thymol and Ciprofloxacin may be a potential therapeutic strategy to address the issue of infections caused by P. aeruginosa biofilms.

Antimicrobial peptides in combination with citronellal efficiently kills multidrug resistance bacteria

BACKGROUND

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are considered as the most potential alternatives to antibiotics, but they have several drawbacks, including high cost, medium antimicrobial efficacy, poor cell selectivity, which limit clinical application. To overcome the above problems, combination therapy of AMPs with adjuvants might maximize the effectiveness of AMPs. We found that citronellal can substantially potentiate the ZY4R peptide efficacy against Escherichia coli ATCC25922. However, it is unclear whether ZY4R/citronellal combination poses synergistic antimicrobial effects against most bacteria, and their synergy mechanism has not been elucidated.

PURPOSE

To investigate synergistic antimicrobial efficacies, biosafety, and synergy mechanism of ZY4R/citronellal combination.

METHOD

Checkerboard, time-kill curves, cytotoxicity assays, and in vivo animal models were conducted to assess synergistic antimicrobial effects and biosafety of the ZY4R/citronellal combination. To evaluate their synergy mechanism, a series of cell-based assays and transcriptome analysis were performed.

RESULTS

ZY4R/citronellal combination exhibited synergistic antimicrobial effects against 20 clinically significant pathogens, with the fractional inhibitory concentration index (FICI) ranging from 0.313 to 0.047. Meanwhile, ZY4R/citronellal combination enhanced antimicrobial efficacies without compromising cell selectivity, contributing to decreasing drug dosage and improving biosafety. Compared with ZY4R (4 mg/kg) and citronellal (25 mg/kg) alone, ZY4R (4 mg/kg)/citronellal (25 mg/kg) combination significantly decreased the bacterial load in peritoneal fluid, liver, and kidney (P < 0.05) and alleviated pathological damage of the organs of mice. Mechanistic studies showed that ZY4R allowed citronellal to pass through the outer membrane rapidly and acted on the inner membrane together with citronellal, causing more potent membrane damage. The membrane damage prompted the continuous accumulation of citronellal in cells, and citronellal further induced energy breakdown and inhibited exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, which aggravated ZY4R-induced outer membrane damage, thereby resulting in bacterial death.

CONCLUSIONS

ZY4R/citronellal combination exhibited broad-spectrum synergy with a low resistance development and high biosafety. Their synergy mechanism acted on two important cellular targets (energy metabolism and membrane integrity). Combination therapy of ZY4R with citronellal may be a promising mixture to combat bacterial infections facing an antibiotic-resistance crisis.

Comparison of Antibacterial Activity of Phytochemicals against Common Foodborne Pathogens and Potential for Selection of Resistance

Antimicrobial resistance is now commonly observed in bacterial isolates from multiple settings, compromising the efficacy of current antimicrobial agents. Therefore, there is an urgent requirement for efficacious novel antimicrobials to be used as therapeutics, prophylactically or as preservatives. One promising source of novel antimicrobial chemicals is phytochemicals, which are secondary metabolites produced by plants for numerous purposes, including antimicrobial defence. In this report, we compare the bioactivity of a range of phytochemical compounds, testing their ability to directly inhibit growth or to potentiate other antimicrobials against Salmonella enterica Typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Listeria monocytogenes, and Staphylococcus aureus. We found that nine compounds displayed consistent bioactivity either as direct antimicrobials or as potentiators. Thymol at 0.5 mg/mL showed the greatest antimicrobial effect and significantly reduced the growth of all species, reducing viable cell populations by 66.8%, 43.2%, 29.5%, and 70.2% against S. enterica Typhimurium, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa, and L. monocytogenes, respectively. Selection of mutants with decreased susceptibility to thymol was possible for three of the pathogens, at a calculated rate of 3.77 × 10-8, and characterisation of S. enterica Typhimurium mutants showed a low-level MDR phenotype due to over-expression of the major efflux system AcrAB-TolC. These data show that phytochemicals can have strong antimicrobial activity, but emergence of resistance should be evaluated in any further development.

Evolving biofilm inhibition and eradication in clinical settings through plant-based antibiofilm agents

BACKGROUND

After almost 100 years since evidence of biofilm mode of growth and decades of intensive investigation about their formation, regulatory pathways and mechanisms of antimicrobial tolerance, nowadays there are still no therapeutic solutions to eradicate bacterial biofilms and their biomedical related issues.

PURPOSE

This review intends to provide a comprehensive summary of the recent and most relevant published studies on plant-based products, or their isolated compounds with antibiofilm activity mechanisms of action or identified molecular targets against bacterial biofilms. The objective is to offer a new perspective of most recent data for clinical researchers aiming to prevent or eliminate biofilm-associated infections caused by bacterial pathogens.

METHODS

The search was performed considering original research articles published on PubMed, Web of Science and Scopus from 2015 to April 2023, using keywords such as "antibiofilm", "antivirulence", "phytochemicals" and "plant extracts".

RESULTS

Over 180 articles were considered for this review with a focus on the priority human pathogens listed by World Health Organization, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Inhibition and detachment or dismantling of biofilms formed by these pathogens were found using plant-based extract/products or derivative compounds. Although combination of plant-based products and antibiotics were recorded and discussed, this topic is currently poorly explored and only for a reduced number of bacterial species.

CONCLUSIONS

This review clearly demonstrates that plant-based products or derivative compounds may be a promising therapeutic strategy to eliminate bacterial biofilms and their associated infections. After thoroughly reviewing the vast amount of research carried out over years, it was concluded that plant-based products are mostly able to prevent biofilm formation through inhibition of quorum sensing signals, but also to disrupt mature biofilms developed by multidrug resistant bacteria targeting the biofilm extracellular polymeric substance. Flavonoids and phenolic compounds seemed the most effective against bacterial biofilms.

Development of Gelled-Oil Nanoparticles for the Encapsulation and Release of Berberine

In this study, a new drug carrier based on gelled-oil nanoparticles (GNPs) was designed and synthesized for the encapsulation and release of the model hydrophobic drug, berberine chloride (BCl). Two compositions with different oil phases were examined, sesame oil (SO) and cinnamaldehyde (Cin), which were emulsified with water, stabilized with Tween 80 (Tw80), and gelled using an N-alkylated primary oxalamide low-molecular-weight gelator (LMWG) to give stable dispersions of GNPs between 100 and 200 nm in size. The GNP formulation with Cin was significantly favored over SO due to (1) lower gel melting temperatures, (2) higher gel mechanical strength, and (3) significantly higher solubility, encapsulation efficiency, and loading of BCl. Also, the solubility and loading of BCl in Cin were significantly increased (at least 7-fold) with the addition of cinnamic acid. In vitro release studies showed that the release of BCl from the GNPs was independent of gelator concentration and lower than that for BCl solution and the corresponding nanoemulsion (no LWMG). Also, cell internalization studies suggested that the N-alkylated primary oxalamide LMWG did not interfere with the internalization efficiency of BCl into mouse mast cells. Altogether, this work demonstrates the potential use of these new GNP formulations for biomedical studies involving the encapsulation of drugs and nutraceuticals and their controlled release.

Antifungal Activity of Glucosinolate-Derived Nitriles and Their Synergistic Activity with Glucosinolate-Derived Isothiocyanates Distinguishes Various Taxa of Brassicaceae Endophytes and Soil Fungi

The glucosinolates of Brassicaceae plants are converted into bioactive isothiocyanates and other volatiles during a challenge by pathogens and other biotic stressors. However, the role of alternative downstream products with weaker potency (e.g., nitriles) is far from being fully understood. This study tested the possible synergistic antifungal interaction between various glucosinolate-derived nitriles and 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC) on 45 fungal strains, including endophytes from horseradish roots (Brassicaceae) and soil fungi, using an airtight system enabling the accurate study of extremely volatile antifungal agents. The median minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were 1.28, 6.10, 27.00 and 49.72 mM for 1H-indole-3-acetonitrile (IAN), 3-phenylpropanenitrile (PPN), 4-(methylsulfanyl)-butanenitrile (MSBN) and 3-butenenitrile (BN, = allyl cyanide), respectively. Thus, nitriles were considerably weaker antifungal agents compared to PEITC with a median MIC of 0.04 mM. For the same nitriles, the median fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICIs) of the combinations were 0.562, 0.531, 0.562 and 0.625, respectively. Altogether, 47.7%, 56.8%, 50.0% and 27.3% of tested fungal strains showed a synergistic antifungal activity (FICI ≤ 0.5) for the nitrile-isothiocyanate combinations, respectively. Hypocreales strains showed the least sensitivity towards the GSL decomposition products and their combinations. The mean MIC values for PEITC showed 0.0679 ± 0.0358, 0.0400 ± 0.0214, 0.0319 ± 0.0087 and 0.0178 ± 0.0171 mM for Hypocreales, Eurotiales, Glomerellales and Pleosporales, respectively. In addition, nitriles, especially IAN, also showed significant differences. For the same fungi, the median FICI values fell in the ranges of 0.61-0.67, 0.52-0.61, 0.40-0.50 and 0.48-0.67, respectively, depending on the nitrile. Our results suggest that glucosinolate-derived nitriles may enhance isothiocyanate antifungal activity and that they may play an active role in shaping the plant microbiome and contribute to the filtering of microbes by plants.

Cinnamaldehyde Restores Ceftriaxone Susceptibility against Multidrug-Resistant Salmonella

In recent years, infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have greatly threatened human health and imposed a burden on global public health. To overcome this crisis, there is an urgent need to seek effective alternatives to single antibiotic therapy to circumvent drug resistance and prevent MDR bacteria. According to previous reports, cinnamaldehyde exerts antibacterial activity against drug-resistant Salmonella spp. This study was conducted to investigate whether cinnamaldehyde has a synergistic effect on antibiotics when used in combination, we found that cinnamaldehyde enhanced the antibacterial activity of ceftriaxone sodium against MDR Salmonella in vitro by significantly reduced the expression of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase, inhibiting the development of drug resistance under ceftriaxone selective pressure in vitro, damaging the cell membrane, and affecting its basic metabolism. In addition, it restored the activity of ceftriaxone sodium against MDR Salmonella in vivo and inhibited peritonitis caused by ceftriaxone resistant strain of Salmonella in mice. Collectively, these results revealed that cinnamaldehyde can be used as a novel ceftriaxone adjuvant to prevent and treat infections caused by MDR Salmonella, mitigating the possibility of producing further mutant strains.

Potential of Essential Oils in the Control of Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, the causative agent of listeriosis. Infections typically occur through consumption of foods, such as meats, fisheries, milk, vegetables, and fruits. Today, chemical preservatives are used in foods; however, due to their effects on human health, attention is increasingly turning to natural decontamination practices. One option is the application of essential oils (EOs) with antibacterial features, since EOs are considered by many authorities as being safe. In this review, we aimed to summarize the results of recent research focusing on EOs with antilisterial activity. We review different methods via which the antilisterial effect and the antimicrobial mode of action of EOs or their compounds can be investigated. In the second part of the review, results of those studies from the last 10 years are summarized, in which EOs with antilisterial effects were applied in and on different food matrices. This section only included those studies in which EOs or their pure compounds were tested alone, without combining them with any additional physical or chemical procedure or additive. Tests were performed at different temperatures and, in certain cases, by applying different coating materials. Although certain coatings can enhance the antilisterial effect of an EO, the most effective way is to mix the EO into the food matrix. In conclusion, the application of EOs is justified in the food industry as food preservatives and could help to eliminate this zoonotic bacterium from the food chain.

Phytochemicals: potential alternative strategy to fight Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium

The rise of multidrug resistant (MDR) microorganisms is a great hazard worldwide and has made it difficult to treat many infectious diseases adequately. One of the most prevalent causes of outbreaks of foodborne illness worldwide is Salmonella. The ability of this and other harmful bacteria to withstand antibiotics has recently proven crucial to their effective control. Since the beginning of time, herbal medicines and phytochemicals have been employed for their potent antibacterial action and there is a growing trend toward the production of plant based natural products for the prevention and treatment of pathogenic infections. Numerous phytochemicals have been proven effective against the molecular determinants responsible for attaining drug resistance in pathogens like efflux pumps, membrane proteins, bacterial cell communications and biofilms. The medicinal plants having antibacterial activity and antibiotics combination with phytochemicals have shown synergetic activity against Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium. The inhibitory effects of tannins on rumen proteolytic bacteria can be exploited in ruminant nutrition. Improved control of the rumen ecology and practical use of this feed additive technology in livestock production will be made possible by a better knowledge of the modulatory effects of phytochemicals on the rumen microbial populations in combination with fermentation. This review focuses on the development of antibacterial resistance in Salmonella, the mechanism of action of phytochemicals and the use of phytochemicals against S. enterica serovar Typhimurium. The advances and potential future applications of phytochemicals in the fight against resistant are also discussed.

Synergistic Activity of Thymol with Commercial Antibiotics against Critical and High WHO Priority Pathogenic Bacteria

The use of synergistic combinations between natural compounds and commercial antibiotics may be a good strategy to fight against microbial resistance, with fewer side effects on human, animal and environmental, health. The antimicrobial capacity of four compounds of plant origin (thymol and gallic, salicylic and gentisic acids) was analysed against 14 pathogenic bacteria. Thymol showed the best antimicrobial activity, with MICs ranging from 125 µg/mL (for Acinetobacter baumannii, Pasteurella aerogenes, and Salmonella typhimurium) to 250 µg/mL (for Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae). Combinations of thymol with eight widely used antibiotics were studied to identify combinations with synergistic effects. Thymol showed synergistic activity with chloramphenicol against A. baumannii (critical priority by the WHO), with streptomycin and gentamicin against Staphylococcus aureus (high priority by the WHO), and with streptomycin against Streptococcus agalactiae, decreasing the MICs of these antibiotics by 75% to 87.5%. The kinetics of these synergies indicated that thymol alone at the synergy concentration had almost no effect on the maximum achievable population density and very little effect on the growth rate. However, in combination with antibiotics at the same concentration, it completely inhibited growth, confirming its role in facilitating the action of the antibiotic. The time-kill curves indicated that all the combinations with synergistic effects were mainly bactericidal.

The action of phytochemicals in biofilm control

Covering: 2009 to 2021Antimicrobial resistance is now rising to dangerously high levels in all parts of the world, threatening the treatment of an ever-increasing range of infectious diseases. This has becoming a serious public health problem, especially due to the emergence of multidrug-resistance among clinically important bacterial species and their ability to form biofilms. In addition, current anti-infective therapies have low efficacy in the treatment of biofilm-related infections, leading to recurrence, chronicity, and increased morbidity and mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to search for innovative strategies/antibacterial agents capable of overcoming the limitations of conventional antibiotics. Natural compounds, in particular those obtained from plants, have been exhibiting promising properties in this field. Plant secondary metabolites (phytochemicals) can act as antibiofilm agents through different mechanisms of action from the available antibiotics (inhibition of quorum-sensing, motility, adhesion, and reactive oxygen species production, among others). The combination of different phytochemicals and antibiotics have revealed synergistic or additive effects in biofilm control. This review aims to bring together the most relevant reports on the antibiofilm properties of phytochemicals, as well as insights into their structure and mechanistic action against bacterial pathogens, spanning December 2008 to December 2021.

The Use of Natural Methods to Control Foodborne Biofilms

Biofilms are large aggregates of various species of bacteria or other microorganisms tightly attached to surfaces through an intricate extracellular matrix. These complex microbial communities present quite the challenge in the food processing industry, as conditions such as raw meats and diverse food product content in contact with workers, drains, machinery, and ventilation systems, make for prime circumstances for contamination. Adding to the challenge is the highly resistant nature of these biofilm growths and the need to keep in mind that any antimicrobials utilized in these situations risk health implications with human consumption of the products that are being processed in these locations. For that reason, the ideal means of sanitizing areas of foodborne biofilms would be natural means. Herein, we review a series of innovative natural methods of targeting foodborne biofilms, including bacteriocins, bacteriophages, fungi, phytochemicals, plant extracts, essential oils, gaseous and aqueous control, photocatalysis, enzymatic treatments, and ultrasound mechanisms.

Thymol as an Adjuvant to Restore Antibiotic Efficacy and Reduce Antimicrobial Resistance and Virulence Gene Expression in Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli Strains

The continuous spread of antimicrobial resistance is endangering the efficient control of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC), which is mainly responsible for post-weaning diarrhea onset in piglets. Thymol, the key constituent of thyme essential oil, is already used in animal nutrition for its antimicrobial action. The aim of this study was to investigate the potential adjuvant effect of thymol to re-establish antibiotic efficacy against highly resistant ETEC field strains. Secondly, we evaluated the modulation of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. Thymol showed the capacity to control ETEC growth and, when combined with ineffective antibiotics, it increased their antimicrobial power. In particular, it showed significant effects when blended with colistin and tetracycline, suggesting that the adjuvant effects rely on the presence of complementary mechanisms of action between molecules, or the absence of resistance mechanisms that inactivate antibiotics and target sites. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that, when added to antibiotics, thymol can help to further downregulate several virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, offering new insights on the potential mechanisms of action. Therefore, in a one-health approach, our study supports the beneficial effects of combining thymol with antibiotics to restore their efficacy, together with the possibility of targeting gene expression as a pioneering approach to manage ETEC pathogenicity.

Cinnamomum: The New Therapeutic Agents for Inhibition of Bacterial and Fungal Biofilm-Associated Infection

Due to the potent antibacterial properties of Cinnamomum and its derivatives, particularly cinnamaldehyde, recent studies have used these compounds to inhibit the growth of the most prevalent bacterial and fungal biofilms. By inhibiting flagella protein synthesis and swarming motility, Cinnamomum could suppress bacterial attachment, colonization, and biofilm formation in an early stage. Furthermore, by downregulation of Cyclic di‐guanosine monophosphate (c‐di‐GMP), biofilm-related genes, and quorum sensing, this compound suppresses intercellular adherence and accumulation of bacterial cells in biofilm and inhibits important bacterial virulence factors. In addition, Cinnamomum could lead to preformed biofilm elimination by enhancing membrane permeability and the disruption of membrane integrity. Moreover, this substance suppresses the Candida species adherence to the oral epithelial cells, leading to the cell wall deformities, damage, and leakages of intracellular material that may contribute to the established Candida’s biofilm elimination. Therefore, by inhibiting biofilm maturation and destroying the external structure of biofilm, Cinnamomum could boost antibiotic treatment success in combination therapy. However, Cinnamomum has several disadvantages, such as poor solubility in aqueous solution, instability, and volatility; thus, the use of different drug-delivery systems may resolve these limitations and should be further considered in future investigations. Overall, Cinnamomum could be a promising agent for inhibiting microbial biofilm-associated infection and could be used as a catheter and other medical materials surface coatings to suppress biofilm formation. Nonetheless, further in vitro toxicology analysis and animal experiments are required to confirm the reported molecular antibiofilm effect of Cinnamomum and its derivative components against microbial biofilm.

Citrus Essential Oils: a Treasure Trove of Antibiofilm Agent

Biofilms are groups of adherent cell communities that cohere to the biotic and abiotic surfaces with the help of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). EPS allow bacteria to form a biofilm that facilitates their binding to biotic and abiotic surfaces and provides resistance to the host immune responses and to antibiotics. There are efforts that have led to the development of natural compounds that can overcome this biofilm-mediated resistance. Essential oils (EOs) are a unique mixture of compounds that plays a key role in preventing the development of biofilm. The present overview focusses on the role of various types of citrus essential oils in acting against the biofilm, and the antibiofilm properties of natural compounds that may show an avenue to treat the multidrug-resistant bacteria.

The anti-campylobacter activity of eugenol and its potential for poultry meat safety: A review

Poultry is one of the fastest growing industries due to advantages in land use, rapid production and advances in feed technology. The rising trend in the consumption of poultry meat over the last 50 years has also increased concerns about food safety. Campylobacter jejuniis the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis, the foremost cause of foodborne deaths. Despite significant progress in food safety methology, the genusCampylobacter remains a common foodborne pathogen in poultry. Increasing consumer demands for natural products require the discovery of new antimicrobials to ensure the safety of poultry meat. Recent studies have revealed that eugenol acts with antimicrobial activity on a wide variety of foodborne microorganisms. Eugenol is generally recognized as safe and is a promising preservative for the food industry. However, specific applications of eugenol need to be identified and validated to clarify the role of the food preservative in poultry meat safety.

Design and Synthesis of Menthol and Thymol Derived Ciprofloxacin: Influence of Structural Modifications on the Antibacterial Activity and Anticancer Properties

Sixteen new Ciprofloxacin derivatives were designed and successfully synthesized. In an in silico experiment, lipophilicity was established for obtained compounds. All compounds were screened for antimicrobial activity using standard and clinical strains. As for Gram-positive hospital microorganisms, all tested derivatives were active. Measured MICs were in the range 1–16 µg/mL, confirming high antimicrobial potency. Derivative 12 demonstrated activity against all standard Gram-positive Staphylococci, within the range of 0.8–1.6 µg/mL and was confirmed as the leading structure with MICs 1 µg/mL for S. pasteuri KR 4358 and S. aureus T 5591 (clinical strains). All compounds were screened for their in vitro cytotoxic properties via the MTT method. Three of the examined compounds (3, 11 and 16) showed good activity against cancer cells, and in parallel were found not to be cytotoxic toward normal cells. Doxorubicin SI ranged 0.14–1.11 while the mentioned three ranged 1.9–3.4. Selected Ciprofloxacin derivatives were docked into the crystal structure of topoisomerase II (DNA gyrase) in complex with DNA (PDB ID: 5BTC). In summary, leading structures were established (3, 11, 12 and 16). We have observed poor results in preformed studies for disubstituted derivatives, suggesting that 3-oxo-4-carboxylic acid core is the active DNA-gyrase binding site, and when structural changes were made in this fragment, there was an observed decrease in antibacterial potency.

Escaping mechanisms of ESKAPE pathogens from antibiotics and their targeting by natural compounds

The microorganisms that have developed resistance to available therapeutic agents are threatening the globe and multidrug resistance among the bacterial pathogens is becoming a major concern of public health worldwide. Bacteria develop protective mechanisms to counteract the deleterious effects of antibiotics, which may eventually result in loss of growth-inhibitory potential of antibiotics. ESKAPE (Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterobacter spp.) pathogens display multidrug resistance and virulence through various mechanisms and it is the need of the hour to discover or design new antibiotics against ESKAPE pathogens. In this article, we have discussed the mechanisms acquired by ESKAPE pathogens to counteract the effect of antibiotics and elaborated on recently discovered secondary metabolites derived from bacteria and plant sources that are endowed with good antibacterial activity towards pathogenic bacteria in general, ESKAPE organisms in particular. Abyssomicin C, allicin, anthracimycin, berberine, biochanin A, caffeic acid, daptomycin, kibdelomycin, piperine, platensimycin, plazomicin, taxifolin, teixobactin, and thymol are the major metabolites whose antibacterial potential have been discussed in this article.

Synergistic Interaction Between Paired Combinations of Natural Antimicrobials Against Poultry-Borne Pathogens

Natural antimicrobials (NAM) are promising candidates for the successful control of poultry-borne bacteria, carrying potent antimicrobial activity (AMA) against a wide range of multidrug-resistant pathogens. Individual activities of carvacrol, eugenol, trans-cinnamaldehyde, oregano, and thymol, along with the combined activity of paired compounds, were examined using broth microdilution and checkerboard techniques. The characteristic interactions between the compounds were calculated using an improved method, based on combination index (CI) values. The bacteria examined herein were selected due to their known genetic resistance to at least one antibiotic. Our results indicated that thymol was most effective, exhibiting the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value against Salmonella pullorum, Escherichia coli, and Klebsiella pneumoniae, establishing the order of antimicrobial efficacy as: thymol > oregano > carvacrol > trans-cinnamaldehyde > eugenol. In the interaction study, the paired combination of carvacrol and thymol showed synergistic effects and was highly effective in reducing the antibiotic resistance of all the evaluated pathogens. Notably, all CI values were <1.0 in evaluations of S. pullorum, indicating the absence of antagonism between eugenol and thymol (or oregano). In K. pneumoniae, majority of CI values, which had a few concentration points, were smaller than 1.0, indicating a synergistic effect between eugenol and carvacrol (oregano or thymol), and trans-cinnamaldehyde and carvacrol. In E. coli, apart from some concentration points, some CI values were smaller than 1.0, demonstrating a synergistic effect between eugenol and carvacrol, and thymol and carvacrol (eugenol or oregano). It is therefore of great significance to investigate and illuminate the minimal effect concentration of these five components when they are used in combination as feed additives. Moreover, the improved evaluation method of this study provides a precise and extensive means to assess the synergistic effects of NAM.

Discovery of Natural Products With Antifungal Potential Through Combinatorial Synergy

The growing prevalence of antifungal drug resistance coupled with the slow development of new, acceptable drugs and fungicides has raised interest in natural products (NPs) for their therapeutic potential and level of acceptability. However, a number of well-studied NPs are considered promiscuous molecules. In this study, the advantages of drug-drug synergy were exploited for the discovery of pairwise NP combinations with potentiated antifungal activity and, potentially, increased target specificity. A rational approach informed by previously known mechanisms of action of selected NPs did not yield novel antifungal synergies. In contrast, a high-throughput screening approach with yeast revealed 34 potential synergies from 800 combinations of a diverse NP library with four selected NPs of interest (eugenol, EUG; β-escin, ESC; curcumin, CUR; berberine hydrochloride, BER). Dedicated assays validated the most promising synergies, namely, EUG + BER, CUR + sclareol, and BER + pterostilbene (PTE) [fractional inhibitory concentrations (FIC) indices ≤ 0.5 in all cases], reduced to as low as 35 (BER) and 7.9 mg L-1 (PTE). These three combinations synergistically inhibited a range of fungi, including human or crop pathogens Candida albicans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Zymoseptoria tritici, and Botrytis cinerea, with synergy also against azole-resistant isolates and biofilms. Further investigation indicated roles for mitochondrial membrane depolarization and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation in the synergistic mechanism of EUG + BER action. This study establishes proof-of-principle for utilizing high-throughput screening of pairwise NP interactions as a tool to find novel antifungal synergies. Such NP synergies, with the potential also for improved specificity, may help in the management of fungal pathogens.

Plant Extract and Essential Oil Application against Food-Borne Pathogens in Raw Pork Meat

Herbal and plant extracts are being applied for a wide range of foods against different types of food-borne pathogens. In the present study, ethanolic and aqueous extracts (2% w/v) from cranberry (Vaccinium macrocarpon) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) plants were applied alone or in combination with two essential oils (thyme and oregano in a concentration of 0.150 μg/g) in pork meatballs and their antimicrobial activity was estimated. The extracts exhibited promising results (aqueous and ethanolic extracts of pomegranate and cranberry in a food-compatible concentration of 2% w/v) were applied to raw pork meatball production and their antimicrobial activity was recorded versus Enterobacteriaceae, total mesophilic bacteria, yeasts/molds, Staphylococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp. and lactic acid bacteria (LAB). The outcome demonstrated that meatballs containing aqueous extracts of pomegranate were more resistant to spoilage compared to all the other samples since they were preserved for more days. The chemical profiles of plant extracts were determined through LC-QTOF/MS and the chemical composition of the essential oils applied was determined with the use of GC/MS in order to identify the substances involved in the observed antimicrobial activity. Phenolic acids (quinic acid, chlorogenic acid), monoterpenes (p-cymene, carvacrol, thymol, limonene), organic acids (citric acid) and phenols were the main constituents found in the plant extracts and essential oils applied. These extracts of plant origin could be used as natural preservatives in meat products, even in low concentrations.

Antibacterial Activity and Multi-Targeting Mechanism of Dehydrocorydaline From Corydalis turtschaninovii Bess. Against Listeria monocytogenes

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, with relatively low incidence but high case-fatality. Phytochemicals have been recognized as a promising antimicrobial agent as an alternative to synthetic chemicals due to their safety and high efficacy with multi-target sites. This study identified and characterized a novel antibacterial agent, dehydrocorydaline, in the Corydalis turschaninovii rhizome using HPLC-LTQ-Orbitrap-HRMS, and its antibacterial effect with lowest MIC (1 mg/mL) and MBC (2 mg/mL) values. In addition, an in vitro growth kinetic assay, cytoplasmic nucleic acid and protein leakage assay, and observation of morphological changes in bacterial cells supported the strong antibacterial activity. Dehydrocorydaline also displayed effective inhibitory effects on biofilm formation and bacterial motility. In order to investigate the potential antibacterial mechanism of action of dehydrocorydaline against L. monocytogenes, label-free quantitative proteomics was used, demonstrating that dehydrocorydaline has multiple targets for combating L. monocytogenes including dysregulation of carbohydrate metabolism, suppression of cell wall synthesis, and inhibition of bacterial motility. Overall, this study demonstrated that dehydrocorydaline has potential as a natural and effective antibacterial agent with multi-target sites in pathogenic bacteria, and provides the basis for development of a new class of antibacterial agent.

Synergistic Antibiofilm Effect of Thymol and Piperine in Combination with Aminoglycosides Antibiotics against Four Salmonella enterica Serovars

Biofilms related to human infection have high levels of pathogenicity due to their resistance to antimicrobial agents. The discovery of antibiofilm agents is necessary. One approach to overcome this problem is the use of antibiotics agents' combination. This study aimed to determine the efficacy of the combination of natural products thymol and piperine with three aminoglycosides antibiotics, amikacin, kanamycin, and streptomycin against biofilm-forming Salmonella enterica. The microtiter plate assay method was used to evaluate the biofilm-producing capacity of the isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration were determined by the broth microdilution method. The inhibition of biofilm formation and biofilm eradication was determined using the microtiter broth method. The checkerboard method was used to determine the combined effects of natural products with aminoglycosides antibiotics. All the tested isolates showed various levels of biofilm formation. Overall, combinations provided 43.3% of synergy in preventing the biofilm formation and 40% of synergy in eradicating preformed biofilms, and in both cases, no antagonism was observed. The combination of thymol with kanamycin showed a synergistic effect with 16- to 32-fold decrease of the minimum biofilm eradication concentration (MBEC) of kanamycin. The interaction of piperine with amikacin and streptomycin also revealed a synergistic effect with 16-fold reduction of the minimum biofilm inhibitory concentration (MBIC). The combination of thymol with the three antibiotics showed a strong synergistic effect in both inhibiting the biofilm formation and eradicating the preformed biofilm. This study demonstrates that thymol and piperine potentiate the antibiofilm activity of amikacin, kanamycin, and streptomycin. These combinations are a promising approach therapeutic to overcome the problem of Salmonella enterica biofilm-associated infections. In addition, these combinations could help reduce the concentration of individual components, thereby minimizing the nephrotoxicity of aminoglycosides antibiotics.

Phytochemicals as modifiers of gut microbial communities

A healthy gut microbiota (GM) is paramount for a healthy lifestyle. Alterations of the GM have been involved in the aetiology of several chronic diseases, including obesity and type 2 diabetes, as well as cardiovascular and neurodegenerative diseases. In pathological conditions, the diversity of the GM is commonly reduced or altered, often toward an increased Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio. The colonic fermentation of dietary fiber has shown to stimulate the fraction of bacteria purported to have beneficial health effects, acting as prebiotics, and to increase the production of short chain fatty acids, e.g. propionate and butyrate, while also improving gut epithelium integrity such as tight junction functionality. However, a variety of phytochemicals, often associated with dietary fiber, have also been proposed to modulate the GM. Many phytochemicals possess antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that may positively affect the GM, including polyphenols, carotenoids, phytosterols/phytostanols, lignans, alkaloids, glucosinolates and terpenes. Some polyphenols may act as prebiotics, while carotenoids have been shown to alter immunoglobulin A expression, an important factor for bacteria colonization. Other phytochemicals may interact with the mucosa, another important factor for colonization, and prevent its degradation. Certain polyphenols have shown to influence bacterial communication, interacting with quorum sensing. Finally, phytochemicals can be metabolized in the gut into bioactive constituents, e.g. equol from daidzein and enterolactone from secoisolariciresinol, while bacteria can use glycosides for energy. In this review, we strive to highlight the potential interactions between prominent phytochemicals and health benefits related to the GM, emphasizing their potential as adjuvant strategies for GM-related diseases.

Antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of essential oil of clove against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis

The antibacterial and antibiofilm activity of essential oil of clove against Listeria monocytogenes and Salmonella Enteritidis were investigated. The chemical composition of the oil was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Stock solution of the essential oil of clove was prepared in 95% (v/v) ethanol (EOC). The antibacterial assays were performed by disk diffusion assay and minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The biomass of adhered cells and preformed biofilms after incubation with different concentrations of EOC was assessed by crystal violet. Eugenol was the major bioactive compound of clove essential oil, accounting for 78.85% of the total composition. The MIC values for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis were 0.05 mg/ml and 0.1 mg/ml, respectively. The initial cell adhesion at MIC was inhibited by 61.8% for L. monocytogenes and 49.8% for S. Enteritidis. However, the effect of EOC was less marked on biofilm eradication than on cell adhesion. At MIC and within 1 hour of incubation with the EOC, the preformed biofilms were reduced by 30.2% and 20.3% for L. monocytogenes and S. Enteritidis, respectively. These results suggest that sanitizers based on clove essential oil could be a potential strategy to control biofilms in food-related environments.

Contribution of Essential Oils to the Fight against Microbial Biofilms—A Review

The increasing clinical use of artificial medical devices raises the issue of microbial contamination, which is a risk factor for the occurrence of biofilm-associated infections. A huge amount of scientific data highlights the promising potential of essential oils (EOs) to be used for the development of novel antibiofilm strategies. We aimed to review the relevant literature indexed in PubMed and Embase and to identify the recent directions in the field of EOs, as a new modality to eradicate microbial biofilms. We paid special attention to studies that explain the mechanisms of the microbicidal and antibiofilm activity of EOs, as well as their synergism with other antimicrobials. The EOs are difficult to test for their antimicrobial activity due to lipophilicity and volatility, so we have presented recent methods that facilitate these tests. There are presented the applications of EOs in chronic wounds and biofilm-mediated infection treatment, in the food industry and as air disinfectants. This analysis concludes that EOs are a source of antimicrobial agents that should not be neglected and that will probably provide new anti-infective therapeutic agents.

Advanced Killing Potential of Thymol against a Time and Temperature Optimized Attached Listeria monocytogenes Population in Lettuce Broth

Fresh vegetables and salads are increasingly implicated in outbreaks of foodborne infections, such as those caused by Listeria monocytogenes, a dangerous pathogen that can attach to the surfaces of the equipment creating robust biofilms withstanding the killing action of disinfectants. In this study, the antimicrobial efficiency of a natural plant terpenoid (thymol) was evaluated against a sessile population of a multi-strain L. monocytogenes cocktail developed on stainless steel surfaces incubated in lettuce broth, under optimized time and temperature conditions (54 h at 30.6 °C) as those were determined following response surface modeling, and in comparison, to that of an industrial disinfectant (benzalkonium chloride). Prior to disinfection, the minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of each compound were determined against the planktonic cells of each strain. The results revealed the advanced killing potential of thymol, with a concentration of 625 ppm (= 4 × MBC) leading to almost undetectable viable bacteria (more than 4 logs reduction following a 15-min exposure). For the same degree of killing, benzalkonium chloride needed to be used at a concentration of at least 20 times more than its MBC (70 ppm). Discriminative repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (rep-PCR) also highlighted the strain variability in both biofilm formation and resistance. In sum, thymol was found to present an effective anti-listeria action under environmental conditions mimicking those encountered in the salad industry and deserves to be further explored to improve the safety of fresh produce.

Targeting effect of berberine on type I fimbriae of Salmonella Typhimurium and its effective inhibition of biofilm

As a primary cause of food contamination and human diseases, Salmonella Typhimurium can easily form a biofilm that is difficult to remove from food surfaces, and often causes significant invisible threats to food safety. Although berberine has been widely used as an anti-infective drug in traditional medicine, some basic principles underlying its mechanism, especially the interaction between berberine and type I fimbriae genes, has not been verified yet. In this study, two strains of major fimbrial gene mutants (ΔfimA and ΔfimH) were constructed to demonstrate the possible action of berberine on type I fimbriae genes. The broth microdilution method was used to determine the antibacterial activity of berberine against selected strains (WT, ΔfimA, and ΔfimH). Cell agglutination experiments revealed that the number of S. Typhimurium type I fimbriae reduced after berberine treatment, which was consistent with transmission electron microscopy results. Quantitative real-time PCR experiments also confirmed that berberine reduced fimA gene expression, indicating a certain interaction between berberine and fimA gene. Furthermore, confocal laser scanning microscopy imaging of biofilm clearly revealed that berberine prevents biofilm formation by reducing the number of type I fimbriae. Overall, it is well speculated for us that berberine could be an excellent combating-biofilm drug in clinical microbiology and food preservation. KEY POINTS: • Reduce the number of fimbriae. • Berberine targeting fimA. • Effective biofilm inhibitor.

Natural Plant-Derived Chemical Compounds as Listeria monocytogenes Inhibitors In Vitro and in Food Model Systems

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne pathogen, sporadically present in various food product groups. An illness caused by the pathogen, named listeriosis, has high fatality rates. Even though L. monocytogenes is resistant to many environmental factors, e.g., low temperatures, low pH and high salinity, it is susceptible to various natural plant-derived antimicrobials (NPDA), including thymol, carvacrol, eugenol, trans-cinnamaldehyde, carvone S, linalool, citral, (E)-2-hexenal and many others. This review focuses on identifying NPDAs active against L. monocytogenes and their mechanisms of action against the pathogen, as well as on studies that showed antimicrobial action of the compounds against the pathogen in food model systems. Synergistic action of NDPA with other factors, biofilm inhibition and alternative delivery systems (encapsulation and active films) of the compounds tested against L. monocytogenes are also summarized briefly.

TMPE Derived from Saffron Natural Monoterpene as Cytotoxic and Multidrug Resistance Reversing Agent in Colon Cancer Cells

Terpenes constitute one of the largest groups of natural products. They exhibit a wide range of biological activities including antioxidant, anticancer, and drug resistance modulating properties. Saffron extract and its terpene constituents have been demonstrated to be cytotoxic against various types of cancer cells, including breast, liver, lung, pancreatic, and colorectal cancer. In the present work, we have studied anticancer properties of TMPE, a newly synthesized monoterpene derivative of β-cyclocitral—the main volatile produced by the stigmas of unripe crocuses. TMPE presented selective cytotoxic activity to doxorubicin-resistant colon cancer cells and was identified to be an effective MDR modulator in doxorubicin-resistant cancer cells. Synergy between this derivative and doxorubicin was observed. Most probably, TMPE inhibited transport activity of ABCB1 protein without affecting its expression level. Analysis of TMPE physicochemical parameters suggested it was not likely to be transported by ABCB1. Molecular modeling showed TMPE being more reactive molecule than the parental compound—β-cyclocitral. Analysis of electrostatic potential maps of both compounds prompted us to hypothesize that reduced reactivity as well as susceptibility to electrophilic attack were related to the lower general toxicity of β-cyclocitral. All of the above pointed to TMPE as an interesting candidate molecule for MDR reversal in cancer cells.

Pimenta Oil as A Potential Treatment for Acinetobacter Baumannii Wound Infection: In Vitro and In Vivo Bioassays in Relation to Its Chemical Composition

Bacterial biofilm contributes to antibiotic resistance. Developing antibiofilm agents, more favored from natural origin, is a potential method for treatment of highly virulent multidrug resistant (MDR) bacterial strains; The potential of Pimenta dioica and Pimenta racemosa essential oils (E.Os) antibacterial and antibiofilm activities in relation to their chemical composition, in addition to their ability to treat Acinetobacter baumannii wound infection in mice model were investigated; P. dioica leaf E.O at 0.05 µg·mL⁻¹ efficiently inhibited and eradicated biofilm formed by A. baumannii by 85% and 34%, respectively. Both P. diocia and P. racemosa leaf E.Os showed a bactericidal action against A. baumanii within 6h at 2.08 µg·mL⁻¹. In addition, a significant reduction of A. baumannii microbial load in mice wound infection model was found. Furthermore, gas chromatography mass spectrometry analysis revealed qualitative and quantitative differences among P. racemosa and P. dioica leaf and berry E.Os. Monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpenes, and phenolics were the major detected classes. β-Myrcene, limonene, 1,8-cineole, and eugenol were the most abundant volatiles. While, sesquiterpenes were found as minor components in Pimenta berries E.O; Our finding suggests the potential antimicrobial activity of Pimenta leaf E.O against MDR A. baumannii wound infections and their underlying mechanism and to be further tested clinically as treatment for MDR A. baumannii infections.

Anti-Acinetobacter baumannii activity of selected phytochemicals alone, in binary combinations and in combinations with conventional antibiotics

Acinetobacter baumannii is one of the emerging multidrug- and pandrug-resistant pathogens. The aim of the study was to determine anti-A. baumannii activity of selected terpenes, terpenoids and phenylpropanoids alone, in binary combinations, and in combinations with conventional antibiotics using microdilution-checkerboard and time-kill curve method. The most effective were terpenoids carvacrol (7.0-28.0 μg mL^-1) and thymol (22.0-76.0 μg mL^-1), as well as phenylpropanoid compound eugenol (90.5-304.0 μg mL^-1), with the active concentrations were comparable to antibiotics. The binary combinations showed additive or indifferent effects. The combination gentamicin-carvacrol was synergistic only against reference strain (FICI = 0.50), while other combinations were additive. The best bacteriostatic activity showed carvacrol, thymol or eugenol in combination with ciprofloxacin (FICI range 0.11-0.50) against both the reference and multidrug-resistant strains. The synergistic effect was further confirmed by time kill curve method and obtained after only 15 h. The results indicate a new possible therapeutic strategy against multiple resistant A. baumannii.

Evaluation of the Antibacterial Activity and Efflux Pump Reversal of Thymol and Carvacrol against Staphylococcus aureus and Their Toxicity in Drosophila melanogaster

The antibacterial activity and efflux pump reversal of thymol and carvacrol were investigated against the Staphylococcus aureus IS-58 strain in this study, as well as their toxicity against Drosophila melanogaster. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth microdilution method, while efflux pump inhibition was assessed by reduction of the antibiotic and ethidium bromide (EtBr) MICs. D. melanogaster toxicity was tested using the fumigation method. Both thymol and carvacrol presented antibacterial activities with MICs of 72 and 256 µg/mL, respectively. The association between thymol and tetracycline demonstrated synergism, while the association between carvacrol and tetracycline presented antagonism. The compound and EtBr combinations did not differ from controls. Thymol and carvacrol toxicity against D. melanogaster were evidenced with EC50 values of 17.96 and 16.97 µg/mL, respectively, with 48 h of exposure. In conclusion, the compounds presented promising antibacterial activity against the tested strain, although no efficacy was observed in terms of efflux pump inhibition.