title: The mechanism of action of sanguinarine against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
abstract: Sanguinarine is a benzophenanthridine alkaloid derived from the root of Sanguinaria canadensis. It is known to perform a wide spectrum of biological activities. The aim of this study is to examine the antimicrobial actions of sanguinarine against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Sanguinarine antimicrobial activity was assessed by broth dilution method; its mechanism of action was investigated by bacteriolysis, detergent or ATPase inhibitors and transmission electron microscopy were used to monitor the survival characteristics and the changes in bacteria morphology. The activity of sanguinarine against MRSA strains ranged from 3.12 to 6.25 µg/ml, while the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the two reference strains are 3.12 µg/ml and 1.56 µg/ml. The treatment of the cells with sanguinarine induced the release of membrane-bound cell wall autolytic enzymes, which eventually resulted in lysis of the cell. The OD(600s) of the suspensions treated with the combination of Tris-(hydroxymethyl) aminomethane and Triton X-100 with sanguinarine were reduced to 40% and 8%, respectively. Transmission electron microsco-py of MRSA treated with sanguinarine showed alterations in septa formation. The predisposition of lysis and the altered morphology seen by transmission electron microscopy suggest that sanguinarine compromises the cytoplasmic membrane.
authors.affiliation: Wonkwang University, College of Pharmacy and Wonkwang-Oriental Medicines Research Institute, Jeonbuk 570-749, Korea.
authors.forename: Brice W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Obiang-Obounou
authors.forename: Ok-Hwa
authors.initials: OH
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.forename: Jang-Gi
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Joon-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Keum
authors.forename: Sung-Bae
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Su-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Mun
authors.forename: Dong-Won
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Ki Woo
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Chung-Berm
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Young-Guk
authors.initials: YG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Sin-Hee
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Dong-Yeul
authors.initials: DY
authors.lastname: Kwon
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001433:Bacteriolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D053119:Benzophenanthridines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability / Q000187:drug effects; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000187:drug effects; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial / Q000187:drug effects; D007546:Isoquinolines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D053119:Benzophenanthridines; D007546:Isoquinolines; C005705:sanguinarine