Abstract
Microbial resistance is facilitated by biofilm formation and quorum-sensing mediated processes. In this work, the stem bark (ZM) and fruit extracts (ZMFT) of Zanthoxylum gilletii were subjected to column chromatography and afforded lupeol (1), 2,3-epoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyconiferyl alcohol (3), nitidine chloride (4), nitidine (7), sucrose (6) and sitosterol-β-D-glucopyranoside (2). The compounds were characterized using MS and NMR spectral data. The samples were evaluated for antimicrobial, antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activities. Highest antimicrobial activity was exhibited by compounds 3, 4 and 7 against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC 200 µg/mL), compounds 3 and 4 against Escherichia coli (MIC = 100 µg/mL) and compounds 4 and 7 against Candida albicans (MIC = 50 µg/mL). At MIC and sub-MIC concentrations, all samples inhibited biofilm formation by pathogens and violacein production in C. violaceum CV12472 except compound 6. Good disruption of QS-sensing in C. violaceum revealed by inhibition zone diameters were exhibited by compounds 3 (11.5 ± 0.5 mm), 4 (12.5 ± 1.5 mm), 5 (15.0 ± 0.8 mm), 7 (12.0 ± 1.5 mm) as well as the crude extracts from stem barks (16.5 ± 1.2 mm) and seeds (13.0 ± 1.4 mm). The profound inhibition of quorum sensing mediated processes in test pathogens by compounds 3, 4, 5 and 7 suggests the methylenedioxy- group that these compounds possess as the possible pharmacophore.
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Data Availability
The data used to support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon request.
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Acknowledgements
The authors are thankful to the pharmacognosy team of the University of Liège for undertaking the structural analysis of the compounds. The authors are also grateful to the Mugla Sitki Koçman University in Turkey for the biological part of this work.
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This work was supported by the Institute of Medical Research and Medicinal Plants Studies (IMPM) Yaounde, Cameroon.
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All authors contributed to the study methodology, writing review, and editing. Investigation, formal analysis were performed by Hermia Nalova Ikome, Alfred Ngenge Tamfu, Jean Pierre Abdou, Hugues Fouotsa, Pamela Kemda Nangmo and Fidèle Castro Weyepe Lah. Conceptualisation, methodology, visualisation, funding acquisition, project administration, analysis, supervision, resources and validation Alembert Tiabou Tchinda, Ozgur Ceylan, Michel Frederich and Augustin Ephrem Nkengfack. The first draft of the manuscript was written by Hermia Nalova Ikome and Alfred Ngenge Tamfu. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
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Ikome, H.N., Tamfu, A.N., Abdou, J.P. et al. Disruption of Biofilm Formation and Quorum Sensing in Pathogenic Bacteria by Compounds from Zanthoxylum Gilletti (De Wild) P.G. Waterman. Appl Biochem Biotechnol 195, 6113–6131 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04380-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-023-04380-6