Effects of tannins and related polyphenols on methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) often acquires multi-drug resistance and is involved in many cases of disease in hospitals. We investigated natural substances directly effective against MRSA or that influence antibiotic resistance. Aloe-emodin, an anthraquinone, and several licorice flavonoids showed potent antibacterial effects against MRSA. Like some hydrolysable tannins (corilagin and tellimagrandin I) and a tea polyphenol [(-)-epicatechin gallate], the licorice flavonoid licoricidin also restored the effects of oxacillin, a beta-lactam antibiotic against MRSA. Further study revealed that theasinensin A, a polyphenol formed from (-)-epigallocatechin gallate, proanthocyanidins obtained from fruits of Zizyphus jujuba var. inermis, and polymeric proanthocyanidins from fruit peels of Zanthoxylum piperitum also suppressed the antibiotic resistance of MRSA.
Hatano
Tsutomu
T
Department of Pharmacognosy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Tsushima, Okayama 700-8530, Japan. hatano@pharm.okayama-u.ac.jp
Kusuda
Miwako
M
Inada
Kazutoshi
K
Ogawa
Tomo-omi
TO
Shiota
Sumiko
S
Tsuchiya
Tomofusa
T
Yoshida
Takashi
T
D005419:Flavonoids / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010636:Phenols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D059808:Polyphenols; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects*; D013634:Tannins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D005419:Flavonoids; D010636:Phenols; D059808:Polyphenols; D013634:Tannins