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

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Abstract

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.

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Data Availability

The datasets generated and analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

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Acknowledgements

Research funding under the Performance Linked Encouragement for Academic Studies and Endeavour (PLEASE) scheme, Kerala Government, and Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE), DST, New Delhi, is duly acknowledged. The University Grant Commission Junior Research Fellowships, awarded to Devi Jayakumar, Minsa Mini and Parvathi Vaikkathillam, are duly acknowledged.

Funding

This research was supported by Research funding under the Performance Linked Encouragement for Academic Studies and Endeavour (PLEASE) scheme, Kerala Government, and Consolidation of University Research for Innovation and Excellence in Women Universities (CURIE), DST, New Delhi.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Zoology, Govt College for Women, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, 695014, India

    Devi Jayakumar, Minsa Mini, Praveen Kumar, Parvathi Vaikkathillam, Aparna Mohan & Sajeeb Khan

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  1. Devi Jayakumar
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Correspondence to Praveen Kumar.

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Ethical approval was granted by the institutional Ethics Committee as per order B6/ 2012/ 2021/ GCWT, dated 21/03/2022.

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Jayakumar, D., Mini, M., Kumar, P. et al. Synergistic Effect of Thymol–Ciprofloxacin Combination on Planktonic Cells and Biofilm of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Curr Microbiol 81, 23 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00284-023-03546-z

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