title: Oligomerization of esculin improves its antibacterial activity and modulates antibiotic resistance.
abstract: In this particular study, the antibacterial activity of esculin and oligomer fractions was assessed. MIC values of esculin and its oligomer fractions as well as of some antibiotics against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains and against Escherichia coli multiresistant variants were determined by the standard broth microdilution method. Both esculin and oligoesculin fractions exhibited antibacterial effect against reference strains; Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella enteritidis and Salmonella typhimurium. It appears that E3 oligomer fraction had the greatest antibacterial activity against these reference strains. Besides, as E2 and E3 revealed the best antibacterial effect against multiresistant variants of E. coli, we decided to test the effect of each, combined to the antibiotic against which the variants were resistant. In the interaction study, E2 and E3 oligoesculin fractions were found to be effective in reducing the resistance of E. coli 6574 to ofloxacin and the resistance of E. coli 6228 to amoxicillin. Only E3 oligoesculin fraction showed a synergetic interaction with amoxicillin and tetracyclin against E. coli 6708, but no interaction was found either with E2 or E3 fractions against E. coli 6234. Our study allowed us to conclude that oligomerization of esculin increases its antibacterial potential, according to the degree of polymerization.
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie [2] Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Imen
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mokdad-Bzeouich
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie [2] Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mustapha
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie [2] Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Fadwa
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Chaabane
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie [2] Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Zied
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.affiliation: Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ghedira
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Biomolécules, ENSAIA-INPL, Université de Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghoul
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire d'Ingénierie des Biomolécules, ENSAIA-INPL, Université de Lorraine, Vandoeuvre-lès-Nancy, France.
authors.forename: Latifa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chebil
authors.affiliation: 1] Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Faculté de Médecine Dentaire, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie [2] Unité de Substances Naturelles Bioactives et Biotechnologie UR12ES12, Faculté de Pharmacie de Monastir, Université de Monastir, Rue Avicenne, Monastir, Tunisie.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chekir-Ghedira
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D004929:Esculin / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D058105:Polymerization
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004929:Esculin