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

Antonie van Leeuwenhoek volume 107, pages 703–710 (2015)Cite this article

Abstract

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.

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Acknowledgments

The work was supported by (A) the Thailand Research Fund and (B) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Prince of Songkla University.

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Affiliations

  1. Natural Product Research Center of Excellence, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Khadar Syed Musthafa & Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchai

  2. Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Science, Prince of Songkla University, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90112, Thailand

    Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchai

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  1. Khadar Syed Musthafa
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  2. Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchai
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Correspondence to Supayang Piyawan Voravuthikunchai.

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Musthafa, K.S., Voravuthikunchai, S.P. Anti-virulence potential of eugenyl acetate against pathogenic bacteria of medical importance. Antonie van Leeuwenhoek 107, 703–710 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-014-0364-4

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Keywords

  • Eugenyl acetate
  • Anti-virulence agent
  • Pyocyanin
  • Pyoverdin
  • Protease
  • Staphyloxanthin
  • Violacein
  • Quorum sensing inhibition