Anti-Biofilm and Anti-Quorum-Sensing Activity of <i>Inula</i> Extracts: A Strategy for Modulating <i>Chromobacterium violaceum</i> Virulence Factors

The formation of microbial biofilm is a self-organizing process among bacterial cells, regulated by quorum-sensing (QS) mechanisms, contributing to development of infections. These processes, either separately or in combination, significantly contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and dis...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Petya D. Dimitrova (Author), Viktoria Ivanova (Author), Antoaneta Trendafilova (Author), Tsvetelina Paunova-Krasteva (Author)
Format: Book
Published: MDPI AG, 2024-04-01T00:00:00Z.
Subjects:
Online Access:Connect to this object online.
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:The formation of microbial biofilm is a self-organizing process among bacterial cells, regulated by quorum-sensing (QS) mechanisms, contributing to development of infections. These processes, either separately or in combination, significantly contribute to bacterial resistance to antibiotics and disinfectants. A novel approach to addressing the challenge of treating infections due to antibacterial resistance involves the use of plant metabolites. In recent years, there has been increasing recognition of different phytochemicals as potential modulators. In our study, we evaluated the synergistic effect of chloroform and methanol extracts from <i>Inula</i> species against key virulence factors, including biofilm formation, violacein production, and swarming motility. Each of the 11 examined plant extracts demonstrated the ability to reduce biofilms and pigment synthesis in <i>C. violaceum</i>. Two of the extracts from <i>I. britannica</i> exhibited significant anti-biofilm and anti-quorum-sensing effects with over 80% inhibition. Their inhibitory effect on violacein synthesis indicates their potential as anti-QS agents, likely attributed to their high concentration of terpenoids (triterpenoids, sesquiterpene lactones, and diterpenoids). Scanning electron microscopy revealed a notable reduction in biofilm biomass, along with changes in biofilm architecture and cell morphology. Additionally, fluorescence microscopy revealed the presence of metabolically inactive cells, indicating the potent activity of the extracts during treatment. These new findings underscore the effectiveness of the plant extracts from the genus <i>Inula</i> as potential anti-virulent agents against <i>C. violaceum</i>. They also propose a promising strategy for preventing or treating its biofilm formation.
Item Description:10.3390/ph17050573
1424-8247