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

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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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Authors and 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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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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