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Antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant impacts of usnic acid against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus

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Abstract

Diabetic foot ulcer caused by vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus strains is a troublesome concern that threatens public health. Due to the few treatment options, it is essential to develop a new alternative antibacterial agent with high efficacy. In the current study, we evaluated the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of usnic acid (UA), a secondary metabolite of lichens. Microdilution broth and crystal violet methods were applied to determine the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities, respectively. To further elucidate the biofilm inhibition, scanning electron microscopy imaging was performed. In addition, the antioxidant activity of UA was investigated by 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assay. The bacteriostatic and bactericidal activity of UA was observed as an amount of 23.02 and 312.5 μg/mL, respectively. UA suppressed biofilm formation and motivated the reduction of free oxygen radicals. The present study may open up a new perspective to combat biofilm-forming enterococci.

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Acknowledgements

We would you like to thank our colleagues for their help in this study.

Funding

This study was financially supported by Vice-Chancellor of Research, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran [Grant Number: 97128].

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Paramedicine, Amol School of Paramedical Sciences, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Mazandaran, Iran

    Zeynab Marzhoseyni

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Iranshahr University of Medical Sciences, Iranshahr, Iran

    Somaye Rashki

  3. Infectious Diseases Research Center, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Azad Khaledi

  4. Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, Kashan University of Medical Sciences, Kashan, Iran

    Azad Khaledi

Authors
  1. Zeynab Marzhoseyni
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  2. Somaye Rashki
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Correspondence to Azad Khaledi.

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Marzhoseyni, Z., Rashki, S. & Khaledi, A. Antibacterial, antibiofilm, and antioxidant impacts of usnic acid against vancomycin-resistant enterococcus. Polym. Bull. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05206-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00289-024-05206-z

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