The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne
Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a major pathogen implicated in the evolution of acne inflammation. Inhibition of C. acnes-induced inflammation is a prospective acne therapy strategy. Berberine (BBR), a safe and effective natural ingredient, has been proven to exhibit powerful antimicrobial and ant...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276383/full |
| _version_ | 1797365488684105728 |
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| author | Luyao Sun Luyao Sun Qian Yu Fu Peng Chen Sun Daibo Wang Lin Pu Fang Xiong Yuncai Tian Cheng Peng Cheng Peng Qinmei Zhou Qinmei Zhou |
| author_facet | Luyao Sun Luyao Sun Qian Yu Fu Peng Chen Sun Daibo Wang Lin Pu Fang Xiong Yuncai Tian Cheng Peng Cheng Peng Qinmei Zhou Qinmei Zhou |
| author_sort | Luyao Sun |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a major pathogen implicated in the evolution of acne inflammation. Inhibition of C. acnes-induced inflammation is a prospective acne therapy strategy. Berberine (BBR), a safe and effective natural ingredient, has been proven to exhibit powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the antimicrobial effect of BBR against C. acnes and its role in C. acnes-mediated inflammatory acne have not been explored. The objective of this investigation was to assess the antibacterial activity of BBR against C. acnes and its inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response. The results of in vitro experiments showed that BBR exhibited significant inhibition zones against four C. acnes strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in the range of 6.25–12.5 μg/mL and 12.5–25 μg/mL, respectively. On the bacterial growth curve, the BBR-treated C. acnes exhibited obvious growth inhibition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that BBR treatment resulted in significant morphological changes in C. acnes. High-content imaging analysis further confirmed that BBR could effectively inhibit the proliferation of C. acnes. The disruption of cell wall and cell membrane structure by BBR treatment was preliminary confirmed according to the leakage of cellular contents such as potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Furthermore, we found that BBR could reduce the transcript levels of genes associated with peptidoglycan synthesis (murC, murD, mraY, and murG). Meanwhile, we investigated the modulatory ability of BBR on C. acnes-induced skin inflammation in mice. The results showed that BBR effectively reduced the number of C. acnes colonized in mice’s ears, thereby alleviating ear swelling and erythema and significantly decreasing ear thickness and weight. In addition, BBR significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in auricular tissues. These results suggest that BBR has the potential to treat inflammatory acne induced by C. acnes. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:42Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-09c843a286e94e1bbc20bb4ca0a078a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T16:49:42Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-09c843a286e94e1bbc20bb4ca0a078a62024-01-05T04:58:01ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2024-01-011410.3389/fmicb.2023.12763831276383The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acneLuyao Sun0Luyao Sun1Qian Yu2Fu Peng3Chen Sun4Daibo Wang5Lin Pu6Fang Xiong7Yuncai Tian8Cheng Peng9Cheng Peng10Qinmei Zhou11Qinmei Zhou12State Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaKey Laboratory of Drug-Targeting and Drug Delivery System of the Education Ministry and Sichuan Province, Sichuan Engineering Laboratory for Plant-Sourced Drug and Sichuan Research Center for Drug Precision Industrial Technology, West China School of Pharmacy, Sichuan University, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaShanghai Zhizhenzhichen Technologies Co., Ltd., Shanghai, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaSchool of Basic Medicine, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaState Key Laboratory of Characteristic Chinese Medicine Resources in Southwest China, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaInnovative Institute of Chinese Medicine and Pharmacy, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, ChinaCutibacterium acnes (C. acnes) is a major pathogen implicated in the evolution of acne inflammation. Inhibition of C. acnes-induced inflammation is a prospective acne therapy strategy. Berberine (BBR), a safe and effective natural ingredient, has been proven to exhibit powerful antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, the antimicrobial effect of BBR against C. acnes and its role in C. acnes-mediated inflammatory acne have not been explored. The objective of this investigation was to assess the antibacterial activity of BBR against C. acnes and its inhibitory effect on the inflammatory response. The results of in vitro experiments showed that BBR exhibited significant inhibition zones against four C. acnes strains, with the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) in the range of 6.25–12.5 μg/mL and 12.5–25 μg/mL, respectively. On the bacterial growth curve, the BBR-treated C. acnes exhibited obvious growth inhibition. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images indicated that BBR treatment resulted in significant morphological changes in C. acnes. High-content imaging analysis further confirmed that BBR could effectively inhibit the proliferation of C. acnes. The disruption of cell wall and cell membrane structure by BBR treatment was preliminary confirmed according to the leakage of cellular contents such as potassium (K+), magnesium (Mg2+), and alkaline phosphatase (AKP). Furthermore, we found that BBR could reduce the transcript levels of genes associated with peptidoglycan synthesis (murC, murD, mraY, and murG). Meanwhile, we investigated the modulatory ability of BBR on C. acnes-induced skin inflammation in mice. The results showed that BBR effectively reduced the number of C. acnes colonized in mice’s ears, thereby alleviating ear swelling and erythema and significantly decreasing ear thickness and weight. In addition, BBR significantly decreased the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines IL-6, IL-1β, and TNF-α in auricular tissues. These results suggest that BBR has the potential to treat inflammatory acne induced by C. acnes.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276383/fullberberineCutibacterium acnesantibacterial activitypeptidoglycan synthesisanti-inflammatoryinflammatory cytokines |
| spellingShingle | Luyao Sun Luyao Sun Qian Yu Fu Peng Chen Sun Daibo Wang Lin Pu Fang Xiong Yuncai Tian Cheng Peng Cheng Peng Qinmei Zhou Qinmei Zhou The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne Frontiers in Microbiology berberine Cutibacterium acnes antibacterial activity peptidoglycan synthesis anti-inflammatory inflammatory cytokines |
| title | The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| title_full | The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| title_fullStr | The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| title_full_unstemmed | The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| title_short | The antibacterial activity of berberine against Cutibacterium acnes: its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| title_sort | antibacterial activity of berberine against cutibacterium acnes its therapeutic potential in inflammatory acne |
| topic | berberine Cutibacterium acnes antibacterial activity peptidoglycan synthesis anti-inflammatory inflammatory cytokines |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1276383/full |
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