New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>

Widespread antibiotic resistance has led to the urgent need for the identification of new antimicrobials. Plants are considered a valuable potential resource for new effective antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, in the present study, we focused on the antimicrobial activity of <i>Polyalthia lo...

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Main Authors: Mihaela Savu, Marguerite Kamdem Simo, Gabriel Xavier Fopokam, Stefan Mihaita Olaru, Oana Cioanca, Fabrice Fekam Boyom, Marius Stefan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-09-01
Series:Microorganisms
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/10/1943
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author Mihaela Savu
Marguerite Kamdem Simo
Gabriel Xavier Fopokam
Stefan Mihaita Olaru
Oana Cioanca
Fabrice Fekam Boyom
Marius Stefan
author_facet Mihaela Savu
Marguerite Kamdem Simo
Gabriel Xavier Fopokam
Stefan Mihaita Olaru
Oana Cioanca
Fabrice Fekam Boyom
Marius Stefan
author_sort Mihaela Savu
collection DOAJ
description Widespread antibiotic resistance has led to the urgent need for the identification of new antimicrobials. Plants are considered a valuable potential resource for new effective antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, in the present study, we focused on the antimicrobial activity of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i> plants harvested from Cameroon using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. The mechanism of action was investigated by employing fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The anti-<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> activity was studied using biofilm inhibition and checkerboard assays. Our results revealed that the tested extracts possess important antimicrobial activities, notably against Gram positive bacteria (MICs as low as 0.039 mg/mL). <i>P. longifolia</i> leaf extracts exhibited a significant bactericidal effect, with a total kill effect recorded after only 2 h of exposure at concentrations equivalent to MBC (0.078 and 0.156 mg/mL). The extracts showed a synergistic antibacterial activity in combination with penicillin against a MRSA clinical isolate and significantly inhibited <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm formation. The mechanism of action is related to the impairment of cell membrane integrity and cell lysis. All these findings suggest that <i>P. longifolia</i> could be an important source of reliable compounds used to develop new antimicrobials.
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spelling doaj.art-43d929495d6f42bab7470da0c49633ef2023-11-24T01:25:49ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072022-09-011010194310.3390/microorganisms10101943New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>Mihaela Savu0Marguerite Kamdem Simo1Gabriel Xavier Fopokam2Stefan Mihaita Olaru3Oana Cioanca4Fabrice Fekam Boyom5Marius Stefan6Department of Biology, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Sciences, University of Maroua, Maroua P.O. Box 814, CameroonDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé P.O. Box 812, CameroonDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaFaculty of Pharmacy, “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115 Iasi, RomaniaDepartment of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé P.O. Box 812, CameroonDepartment of Biology, Faculty of Biology, The Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 11, 700506 Iasi, RomaniaWidespread antibiotic resistance has led to the urgent need for the identification of new antimicrobials. Plants are considered a valuable potential resource for new effective antimicrobial compounds. Therefore, in the present study, we focused on the antimicrobial activity of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i> plants harvested from Cameroon using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and time-kill assays. The mechanism of action was investigated by employing fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy. The anti-<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> activity was studied using biofilm inhibition and checkerboard assays. Our results revealed that the tested extracts possess important antimicrobial activities, notably against Gram positive bacteria (MICs as low as 0.039 mg/mL). <i>P. longifolia</i> leaf extracts exhibited a significant bactericidal effect, with a total kill effect recorded after only 2 h of exposure at concentrations equivalent to MBC (0.078 and 0.156 mg/mL). The extracts showed a synergistic antibacterial activity in combination with penicillin against a MRSA clinical isolate and significantly inhibited <i>S. aureus</i> biofilm formation. The mechanism of action is related to the impairment of cell membrane integrity and cell lysis. All these findings suggest that <i>P. longifolia</i> could be an important source of reliable compounds used to develop new antimicrobials.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/10/1943<i>Polyalthia longifolia</i> leaf extractschemical compositionbactericidal effectmembrane impairmentantibiofilm activitysynergistic effect
spellingShingle Mihaela Savu
Marguerite Kamdem Simo
Gabriel Xavier Fopokam
Stefan Mihaita Olaru
Oana Cioanca
Fabrice Fekam Boyom
Marius Stefan
New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
Microorganisms
<i>Polyalthia longifolia</i> leaf extracts
chemical composition
bactericidal effect
membrane impairment
antibiofilm activity
synergistic effect
title New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
title_full New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
title_fullStr New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
title_full_unstemmed New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
title_short New Insights into the Antimicrobial Potential of <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i>—Antibiofilm Activity and Synergistic Effect in Combination with Penicillin against <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
title_sort new insights into the antimicrobial potential of i polyalthia longifolia i antibiofilm activity and synergistic effect in combination with penicillin against i staphylococcus aureus i
topic <i>Polyalthia longifolia</i> leaf extracts
chemical composition
bactericidal effect
membrane impairment
antibiofilm activity
synergistic effect
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/10/10/1943
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