Phytol has antibacterial property by inducing oxidative stress response in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
Phytol, isolated from Aster yomena, is widely distributed as a constituent of chlorophyll. In the present study, we confirmed the antibacterial activity of phytol and its mechanism inducing oxidative cell death in Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In phytol-treated cells, elevated level of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and transient NADH depletion were observed. These results demonstrated that phytol induced ROS accumulation and that the electron transport chain was involved in increase of ROS. Due to this ROS generation, the imbalance developed between intracellular ROS and the antioxidant defense system, leading to decrease of reduced glutathione (GSH). Moreover, severe DNA damage was shown after treatment with phytol. DNA electrophoresis and a terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay were conducted with pretreatment with the antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) to evaluate the cause of DNA damage. In NAC-pretreated cells, alleviated damage was confirmed and it supports that phytol induces oxidative stress-mediated DNA damage. In conclusion, phytol exerts the antibacterial property via inducing oxidative stress response in P. aeruginosa.
a School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences , Kyungpook National University , Daegu , Republic of Korea.
Wonjong
W
Lee
b College of Pharmacy , Chosun University , Gwangju , Republic of Korea.
Eun-Rhan
ER
Woo
a School of Life Sciences, BK 21 Plus KNU Creative BioResearch Group, College of Natural Sciences , Kyungpook National University , Daegu , Republic of Korea.
Dong Gun
DG
Lee
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D017209:Apoptosis; D004249:DNA Damage; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010836:Phytol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000472:pathogenicity*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010836:Phytol
DNA damage; Phytol; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; oxidative stress; phytochemical