Comparative Study of Antimicrobial Properties of Bee Venom Extracts and Melittins of Honey Bees

Bee venom (BV), or apitoxin, is a complex substance produced by a gland in the abdominal cavity of bees. The main component of BV is melittin, which is a largely studied substance due to its biological properties. To date, the most well-known bee venom and melittin are derived from domesticated honey bees, while venom and melittin derived from wild honey bees have been under-investigated. Hence, this study primarily reports the antimicrobial activities of bee venom and synthetic melittin derived from four different honey bee species (Apis mellifera, A. cerana, A. dorsata, and A. florea) in Thailand. All the bee venom extracts and melittins showed more robust antibacterial activities against Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, S. aureus MRSA, and S. epidermidis) than Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneuminiae, and Salmonella typhimurium) or a fungus (Candida albicans), while the synthetic melittins also have antimicrobial activity at higher concentrations than the bee venom extract. Furthermore, the A. cerana venom extract showed the highest activity against the tested bacteria, followed by A. mellifera, A. florea, and A. dorsata. Therefore, A. cerana venom may be further developed for use in medical applications as a potential alternative agent against Gram-positive bacteria and antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

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A Study of the Antibacterial Activities and the Mode of Action of L-Methionine and L-Cystine Based Surfactants and their Interaction with Bovine Serum Albumin Using Fluorescence Spectroscopy and in Silico Modelling

Biointerface Research in Applied Chemistry ◽

10.33263/briac126.73567375 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 7356-7375

Keyword(s):

Bovine Serum Albumin ◽

Serum Albumin ◽

Bovine Serum ◽

Hydrophobic Interactions ◽

Antibacterial Activities ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Binding Studies ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Gram Negative

Surfactants are versatile excipients that are commonly employed in diverse pharmaceutical formulations given their broad range of antimicrobial activities. Sulfur-based amino acid surfactants are promising candidates as substitutes for conventional antibacterial agents in light of the current antibiotic resistance crisis. Dodecyl esters of the free amine (SURF1), cationic ester hydrochloride (SURF2), and quaternary ammonium (QUAT3) derivatives of methionine, and the Gemini diester of cystine (GEM4) were synthesized and evaluated for antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative pathogens. All surfactants displayed moderate to high antibacterial activities, particularly on Gram-positive bacteria, with QUAT3 showing the highest activity. Among Gram-negative bacteria, QUAT3, GEM4, and SURF2 were mostly active towards K. pneumoniae with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) ranging from 0.004 to 0.441 mM. QUAT3 and GEM4 displayed a bacteriostatic behavior similar to that of tetracycline, as assessed by broth macrodilution assays. Fluorescence binding studies with 1,2-dipalmitoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DPPC) revealed that the antibacterial activities could be attributed to a combination of electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions. Bovine serum albumin (BSA) fluorescence and molecular docking studies indicated that SURF1 and QUAT3 interact mainly via van der Waals' forces and hydrogen bonding while SURF2 binds through hydrophobic interactions. QUAT3, which displays broad-spectrum activity, has the potential to combat drug-resistant bacteria.

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Biological Properties of Essential Oils from Thymus algeriensis Boiss

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10040786 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (4) ◽

pp. 786

Author(s):

Hamza Ouakouak ◽

Adel Benarfa ◽

Mohammed Messaoudi ◽

Samir Begaa ◽

Barbara Sawicka ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Essential Oils ◽

Micrococcus Luteus ◽

Radical Scavenging Activity ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Cancer Cell Line ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Chemical Components ◽

Bornyl Acetate ◽

Thymus Algeriensis

This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the plant Thymus algeriensis Boiss. Essential oils (EOs) were collected in different periods (before, during, and after flowering stage) from the El-Guetfa region, M’sila, Algeria. The EOs extraction was achieved using three distinguishing techniques: hydro (Clevenger trap), steam, and microwave distillations, targeting different aerial parts of the plant (stems, flowers, and leaves). The EOs chemical components were estimated using GC-FID and GC-MS apparatuses. The resulting yield of the extracted oil was moderate and ranged between 0.84 and 1.53% (wt/vol). In total, eighty-five components were identified, in which the oxygenated monoterpenes family formed the main portion, starting from 40.56 up to 70.66%. The obtained essential oil was dominated by five major components that varied from low to quite moderate percentages: camphor (17.45–32.56%), borneol (11.16–22.2%), camphene (7.53–12.86%), 1.8-cineole (5.16–11.21%), and bornyl acetate (3.86–7.92%). The biological results of this oil pointed out that the EOs extracted from the leaves part exposed a weak radical scavenging activity afterward using two well-known antioxidant assays DPPH (IC50 = 8.37 mg/mL) and ABTS (10.84 mg/mL). Meanwhile, this oil presented strong inhibition activity against colon cancer cell line HCT116 (LC50 = 39.8 µg/mL) and a moderate inhibitory against hepatocellular cancer cells HePG2 (LC50 > 100 µg/mL). In addition, this oil antimicrobial activity was quite important against Micrococcus luteus (M. luteus), Staphylococcus aureus CIP 7625, Escherichia coli ATCC 10536, Saccharomyces cerevisiae ATCC 4226, Candida albicans IPA200, Candida tropicalis (Ct), and Candida glabrata (Cg) after using Amoxicillin and Itraconazole as references.

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Polyphenol Contents, Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Aqueous Algerian Propolis Extracts

Phytothérapie ◽

10.3166/phyto-2021-0282 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

E.K. Soltani ◽

K. Zaim ◽

K. Mokhnache ◽

N. Haichour ◽

S. Mezaache-Aichour ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Aqueous Extract ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Radical Scavenging Activity ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Antibacterial Properties ◽

Natural Antioxidants ◽

Antibacterial Activities ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Aqueous Extracts

The propolis, an extremely complex resinous material, exhibits valuable pharmacological and biological properties, mainly attributed to the presence of polyphenols. The composition of propolis depends on time, vegetation, and the area of collection. Total flavonoid and polyphenol contents of aqueous extracts of propolis samples from different areas of Algeria, determined by using aluminum chloride and Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric methods, were in the range of 3.047 ± 0.004–5.273 ± 0.013 mg/g and 96.833 ± 0.027–458.833 ± 0.0005 mg/g crude extract of propolis, respectively. This study examined the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of propolis. Aqueous extracts of propolis were obtained in order to evaluate their antioxidant activities by using 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging, β-carotene and electrochemical assays. All tested propolis samples had relatively strong antioxidant activities, which were also correlated with the total polyphenol and flavonoid content present. The percentage of inhibition of lipid peroxidation of linoleic acid emulsion during 24 h varied between 86.04 ± 0.42 and 90.60 ± 3.77% among the tested samples. The highest DPPH radical scavenging activity was observed by ABAL (Ain Abassa Aqueous Extract) with IC50 = 8.49 ± 5.07 10−5 μg/ml, and the lowest was observed by SAL (Setif Aqueous Extract) with IC50 of 21.16 ± 0.0001 μg/ml. The most important antibacterial activity was obtained with Ain Abassa extract; the zones of inhibition obtained for this excerpt vary from 15.22 to 15.5 mm. Followed by the Setif extract with areas of 12.33 to 12.75 mm, the Tizi-Ouzou extract with areas of 10.11 to 11.11 mm. This study will bring an innovation for further studies with regard to the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the aqueous extracts of propolis. This study corroborates that Algerian propolis is a rich source of natural antioxidants, properties which could be used in the prevention of different diseases, both in humans and in animals.

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Chemical analysis and evaluation of antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of fruit fractions ofMauritia flexuosaL. f. (Arecaceae)

PeerJ ◽

10.7717/peerj.5991 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 6 ◽

pp. e5991 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Carla de Fatima Alves Nonato ◽

Débora Odília Duarte Leite ◽

Rafael Caldas Pereira ◽

Aline Augusti Boligon ◽

Jaime Ribeiro-Filho ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ethyl Acetate ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Antifungal Drugs ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Array Detector ◽

Chloroform Fraction ◽

Standard Samples ◽

Antioxidant And Antimicrobial Activities

BackgroundFruit consumption is currently considered beyond the nutritional aspects because of the important roles in disease prevention and benefits to health. The objective of this study was to characterize the chemical profile and evaluate the antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of different fractions obtained from fruit pulps ofMauritia flexuosa(MFFs).MethodsInitially, chloroform, ethyl acetate and ethanol fractions were obtained from the pulps. Quantifications of total phenols and flavonoids were performed using the methods of Folin-Ciocalteu and complexation with aluminum chloride, respectively. Standard samples were used to identify and quantify phenolic acids and flavonoids using high-performance liquid chromatography with a diode-array detector (HPLC-DAD). The antioxidant capacity of the fractions was verified by sequestration of the free radical 2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) and iron chelating activity. The antimicrobial activity was determined using the microdilution method and the modulating activity was determined using sub-inhibitory concentrations of the fractions in association with antibiotics.ResultsThe chemical analyzes revealed the presence of catechin, caffeic acid, rutin, orientin, quercetin, apigenin, luteolin and kaempferol, where all are present in the ethyl acetate fraction. The fractions exhibited moderate antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against Gram-positive andCandidastrains in addition to modulating the activity of conventional antibiotics. The most expressive result was obtained from the association of the chloroform fraction with cefotaxime, which produced a synergistic effect, reducing the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of the antibiotic from 1,024 to 256 μg/mL.DiscussionThe fractions presented a constitution rich in phenolic compounds, especially flavonoids. The data obtained demonstrated that the fractions presented moderate antioxidant activity by acting both as primary and secondary antioxidants. The fractions presented antimicrobial and antibiotic potentiating activities, being the first record of modulating effect of fractions of this species against the studied microbial strains, but failed in modulating the activity of antifungal drugs, indicating that this plant has the potential to be used in the development of therapeutic alternatives against resistant bacteria. The constitution phenolic the fractions may be responsible for their pharmacological properties in vitro.

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Synthesis, Structure Elucidation, Antibacterial Activities, and Synergistic Effects of Novel Juglone and Naphthazarin Derivatives Against Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains

Frontiers in Chemistry ◽

10.3389/fchem.2021.773981 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 ◽

Author(s):

Valentin Duvauchelle ◽

Chaimae Majdi ◽

David Bénimélis ◽

Catherine Dunyach-Remy ◽

Patrick Meffre ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Synergistic Effects ◽

Antibacterial Properties ◽

Clinical Importance ◽

Antibacterial Activities ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Global Public Health ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Drug Resistant Bacteria ◽

Mrsa Strains

Infections caused by drug-resistant bacteria are a serious threat to human and global public health. Moreover, in recent years, very few antibiotics have been discovered and developed by pharmaceutical companies. Therefore, there is an urgent need to discover and develop new antibacterial agents to combat multidrug-resistant bacteria. In this study, two novel series of juglone/naphthazarin derivatives (43 compounds) were synthesized and evaluated for their antibacterial properties against various clinical and reference Gram-positive MSSA, clinical Gram-positive MRSA, and clinical and reference Gram-negative bacteria E. coli and P. aeruginosa. These strains are of clinical importance because they belong to ESKAPE pathogens. Compounds 3al, 5ag, and 3bg showed promising activity against clinical and reference MSSA (MIC: 1–8 µg/ml) and good efficacy against clinical MRSA (MIC: 2–8 µg/ml) strains. 5am and 3bm demonstrated better activity on both MSSA (MIC: 0.5 µg/ml) and MRSA (MIC: 2 µg/ml) strains. Their MICs were similar to those of cloxacillin against clinical MRSA strains. The synergistic effects of active compounds 3al, 5ag, 5am, 3bg, and 3bm were evaluated with reference antibiotics, and it was found that the antibiotic combination with 3bm efficiently enhanced the antimicrobial activity. Compound 3bm was found to restore the sensitivity of clinical MRSA to cloxacillin and enhanced the antibacterial activity of vancomycin when they were added together. In the presence of 3bm, the MIC values of vancomycin and cloxacillin were lowered up to 1/16th of the original MIC with an FIC index of 0.313. Moreover, compounds 3al, 5ag, 5am, 3bg, and 3bm did not present hemolytic activity on sheep red blood cells. In silico prediction of ADME profile parameter results for 3bm is promising and encouraging for further development.

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Sarconesin II, a New Antimicrobial Peptide Isolated from Sarconesiopsis magellanica Excretions and Secretions

Molecules ◽

10.3390/molecules24112077 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 24 (11) ◽

pp. 2077 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Andrea Díaz-Roa ◽

Abraham Espinoza-Culupú ◽

Orlando Torres-García ◽

Monamaris M. Borges ◽

Ivan N. Avino ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Micrococcus Luteus ◽

Multidrug Resistant ◽

Peptide Sequence ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Antimicrobial Drugs ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Gram Positive Bacteria ◽

Conserved Domain ◽

Health Institutions

Antibiotic resistance is at dangerous levels and increasing worldwide. The search for new antimicrobial drugs to counteract this problem is a priority for health institutions and organizations, both globally and in individual countries. Sarconesiopsis magellanica blowfly larval excretions and secretions (ES) are an important source for isolating antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). This study aims to identify and characterize a new S. magellanica AMP. RP-HPLC was used to fractionate ES, using C18 columns, and their antimicrobial activity was evaluated. The peptide sequence of the fraction collected at 43.7 min was determined by mass spectrometry (MS). Fluorescence and electronic microscopy were used to evaluate the mechanism of action. Toxicity was tested on HeLa cells and human erythrocytes; physicochemical properties were evaluated. The molecule in the ES was characterized as sarconesin II and it showed activity against Gram-negative (Escherichia coli MG1655, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 27853, P. aeruginosa PA14) and Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213, Micrococcus luteus A270) bacteria. The lowest minimum inhibitory concentration obtained was 1.9 μM for M. luteus A270; the AMP had no toxicity in any cells tested here and its action in bacterial membrane and DNA was confirmed. Sarconesin II was documented as a conserved domain of the ATP synthase protein belonging to the Fli-1 superfamily. The data reported here indicated that peptides could be alternative therapeutic candidates for use in infections against Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria and eventually as a new resource of compounds for combating multidrug-resistant bacteria.

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Antimicrobial Ionic Liquids with Fumarate Anion

Journal of Chemistry ◽

10.1155/2013/473153 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 2013 ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Biyan He ◽

Guangnan Ou ◽

Changyi Zhou ◽

Meihong Wang ◽

Suyan Chen

Keyword(s):

Ionic Liquids ◽

Antimicrobial Agents ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Biological Properties ◽

Research Field ◽

Potassium Sorbate ◽

Gravimetric Analysis ◽

Antimicrobial Drugs ◽

Active Research

The shortage of new antimicrobial drugs and increasing resistance of microbe to antimicrobial agents have been of some concern. The formulation studies of new antibacterial and antifungal agents have been an active research field. Ionic liquids are known as designed liquids with controllable physical/chemical/biological properties and specific functions, which have been attracting considerable interest over recent years. However, no attention has been made towards the preparation of ionic liquids with antimicrobial activities. In this paper, a new class of ionic liquids (ILs) with fumarate anion was synthesized by neutralization of aqueous 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hydroxide with equimolar monoester fumarate and characterized using NMR and thermal gravimetric analysis. The ILs are soluble in water and polar organic solvents and also soluble in the common ILs. The antimicrobial activities of the ILs are more active than commercially available potassium sorbate and are greatly affected by the alkyl chain length. The significant antimicrobial properties observed in this research suggest that the ILs may have potential applications in the modern biotechnology.

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PHYSICOCHEMICAL AND ANTIMICROBIAL PROPERTIES OF TRANSLUCENT SOAP PREPARED USING ALOE VERA GEL AND ZIZIPHUS JUJUBE LEAF EXTRACT AS ANTIMICROBIAL SOURCE

FUDMA Journal of Sciences ◽

10.33003/fjs-2020-0404-492 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4 (4) ◽

pp. 348-354

Author(s):

Aliyu Shehu ◽

Ahmed Salisu ◽

Nura S. Gwaram

Keyword(s):

Leaf Extract ◽

Aloe Vera ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Physicochemical Analysis ◽

Gram Negative Bacteria ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Gram Negative ◽

Aloe Vera Gel ◽

Ziziphus Jujube

In this study, the antimicrobial and physicochemical properties of translucent antimicrobial soap prepared using two medicinal plants, Aloe vera gel and Ziziphus jujube leaf extract was evaluated. The results of the physicochemical analysis showed the pH (7.52±0.02), hardness(1.3 cm±0.02), solubility (0.82 g±0.02) and foamability (6.80 cm±0.03) of the prepared soap and these values were within the acceptable limit set by WHO/SON which make the prepared soap skin-friendly. Similarly, the antimicrobial screening was carried out on selected Gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as well as on fungi species using disc diffusion methods and the results showed varying antimicrobial activity at different concentrations ranging from 62.5-500 mg/ml. However, the susceptibility of test bacteria in terms of the zone of inhibition at 500mg/ml of the soap was observed on Staphylococcus lentus (22 mm), Staphylococcus aureus (20mm), Escherichia coli (15 mm), Raoltella ornithinolytica (12mm). The result of antifungal properties was as follows, Candida albicans (12 mm), Trichophyton rubrum (12 mm), and Aspergillus nigar (10 mm) at 500 mg/ml concentration. The results when compared to other antimicrobial soap in the market indicate good quality by inhibiting the growth of both Gram-positive, gram-negative bacteria and fungi. The antimicrobial activities exhibited by the soap in this study could be attributed to the presence of phytochemical constituents in the plant extracts, which signify the potential of the soap as an antimicrobial agent. Therefore, these findings confirmed the efficacy of Aloe vera gel and Zizipus jujube extract in traditional medicine.

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Saponins and Flavonoids from Ludwigia leptocarpa (Nutt) Hara (Onagraceae): Isolation, Characterization, Antibacterial and Antioxidant Activities

Medical & Clinical Research ◽

10.33140/mcr.04.07.01 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 4 (7) ◽

Keyword(s):

Vibrio Cholerae ◽

Causative Agent ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Shigella Flexneri ◽

Antioxidant Properties ◽

Antimicrobial Properties ◽

Antibacterial Activities ◽

Trolox Equivalent Antioxidant Capacity ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Spectra Analysis

Diarrhea continues to be one of the most common causes of morbidity and mortality among infants and children in developing countries. The most common microorganisms responsible for diarrhoeal diseases are Vibrio cholerae, Escherichia coli and Shigella spp. The present study aims to evaluate the antibacterial and antioxidant activities of extracts and compounds from Ludwigia leptocarpa, a plant traditionally used for its vermifugal, anti-dysenteric and antimicrobial properties. The MeOH extract was prepared by maceration from dried whole plant and successively extracted with ethyl acetate and n-butanol to obtain EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts respectively. The column chromatography of the EtOAc and n-BuOH extracts followed by purification of different fractions led to the isolation of six known compounds. Structures of isolated compounds were assigned on the basis of spectra analysis, and by comparison with those from the literature. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The antibacterial activity was assessed by performing minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) against the strains of Gram-positive bacterium, Staphylococcus aureus (a major cause of community and hospital-associated infection), and Gram-negative multi-drug resistant bacteria, Vibrio cholerae (causative agent of cholera) and Shigella flexneri (causative agent of shigellosis). All of the extracts showed different degrees of antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Compounds 2, 3 and 6 displayed the largest antibacterial and antioxidant properties which were in some cases equal or higher than those of reference drugs. The overall results of the present study shows that L. leptocarpa has potentials as a source of natural anti-diarrhoeal and anti-free radical products, given further investigations.

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Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of the essential oil from dried leaves of Eucalyptus staigeriana

Arquivos do Instituto Biológico ◽

10.1590/1808-1657000202018 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 86 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Marcos Saldanha Correa ◽

Joseli Schwambach ◽

Michele Bertoni Mann ◽

Jeverson Frazzon ◽

Ana Paula Guedes Frazzon

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Antimicrobial Activities ◽

Diffusion Method ◽

Clinical Samples ◽

Resistant Bacteria ◽

Antibiofilm Activity ◽

Gram Positive ◽

Promising Alternative ◽

Gram Negative

ABSTRACT: In recent years, compounds with biological properties produced by plants have received attention as an alternative to control microorganisms. Essential oils extracted from green leaves of Eucalyptus sp. have been demonstrated to have antimicrobial activities, but so far there are no reports of antimicrobial activity of essential oils extracted from dried leaves of Eucalyptus staigeriana. So, the objectives of this study were to determine the chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from dried leaves of E. staigeriana (EOdlES) and to evaluate in vitro antimicrobial and antibiofilm activities of EOdlES against gram-positive and gram-negative, resistance and multiresistant Enterococcus faecalis isolated from food and clinical samples. The characterization of EOdlES was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). For this study, 26 bacterial strains were used, which included 11 reference strains and 15 antibiotic resistant and multiresistant E. faecalis strains. Antimicrobial activities of EOdlES against gram-positive and gram-negative were determined using the disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) value was evaluated by a microbroth dilution technique. The antibiofilm effects were assessed by microtiter plate method. As a result, 21 compounds were identified, being oxygenated monoterpenes (69.58%) the major chemical family. EOdlES showed only antimicrobial activity against gram-positive strains. E. faecalis resistant and multiresistant strains show the lowest MIC (3.12 to 6.25%), when compared with reference E. faecalis strain. EOdlES has the ability to inhibit the biofilm formation, but little or none ability to inhibit the preformed biofilm. This study demonstrates that EOdlES is a promising alternative to control important foodborne and clinic gram-positive resistant bacteria.

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