title: An alkaloid, cepharanthine, potentiates the bactericidal effect of methylglyoxal bis (cyclopentylamidinohydrazone) on Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Antiproliferative effects of combined treatment with methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone) (MGBCP), a polyamine biosynthesis inhibitor, and cepharanthine, a biscoclaurine alkaloid, on methicillin- and gentamicin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus were investigated. The bactericidal effect of MGBCP on S. aureus was potentiated by the cepharanthine treatment. Cellular polyamine levels of the bacteria treated with both MGBCP and cepharanthine were much lower than those of the bacteria treated with MGBCP alone. On the contrary, the cellular MGBCP concentration was much higher in the cepharanthine-treated bacteria. Thus, cepharanthine was considered to enhance the incorporation of MGBCP into the bacteria. The combination of MGBCP and cepharanthine resulted in greater suppression of macromolecular synthesis in the bacteria that might have caused greater suppression of bacterial growth.
authors.affiliation: College of Medical Sciences, Mie University, Japan.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hibasami
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Midorikawa
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takaji
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakashima
mesh_terms: D000470:Alkaloids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D004357:Drug Synergism; D008935:Mitoguazone / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D052117:Benzodioxoles
chemical_list: D000470:Alkaloids; D044182:Benzylisoquinolines; D008935:Mitoguazone; C059234:methylglyoxal bis(cyclopentylamidinohydrazone); C006947:cepharanthine; D052117:Benzodioxoles