title: Vaccinium myrtillus leaves and Frangula alnus bark derived extracts as potential antistaphylococcal agents.
abstract: Due to constantly increasing antibiotic resistance of pathogens and participation of the biofilms they make in various types of infections, a development of alternative therapeutic strategies becomes an urgent need. Taking advantage of the biological activity of plant-derived compounds can solve this problem. In this study antimicrobial, including those synergistic with classic antibiotics, and cytotoxic properties of newly-obtained extracts from Vaccinium myrtillus leaves (VLE) and Frangula alnus bark (FBE) were evaluated. Both tested extracts exhibited relevant antistaphylococcal activity (MIC range 0.75-1.5 mg/mL) accompanied by a relativly low cytotoxic effect on mammalian cells (BI > 1). Phytochemical analysis of the extracts tested showed a high total content of phenolic compounds with the predominance of hydroxycinnamic acids in VLE and hydroxybenzoic acids and flavanols in FBE. Widely described in the literature antimicrobial properties of phenolics were probably connected with the biological activity of the extracts tested. We also report that the presence of VLE or FBE at sub-MIC concentrations enhances biocidal potential of vancomycin and linezolid. Therefore, we are considering a possibility of an alternative therapy for local infections caused by S. aureus by combining classic antibiotics with plant-derived extracts.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Beata
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sadowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Paszkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Podsędek
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Institute of Technical Biochemistry, Lodz University of Technology, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Redzynia
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Biology, Faculty of Biology and Environmental Protection, University of Lodz, Łódź, Poland.
authors.forename: Barbara
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Różalska
mesh_terms: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D024301:Plant Bark / Q000737:chemistry; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000737:chemistry; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000737:chemistry; D031955:Rhamnus / Q000737:chemistry*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000472:pathogenicity; D029800:Vaccinium myrtillus / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D010936:Plant Extracts