Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 8, 2026

Quantification of Violacein in Chromobacterium violaceum and Its Inhibition by Bioactive Compounds
Published on: August 8, 2025
Antibiotic-modifying activity of riachin, a non-cyanogenic cyanoglycoside extracted from Bauhinia pentandra
Pablo Antonio Maia de Farias1, Fernando Gomes Figueredo2, Aline Maria Brito Lucas3
1Development and Technological Innovation in Medicines, Universidade Federal do Ceará - UFC, Juazeiro do Norte-CE, PE, Brazil ; College of Pharmacy, Faculdade de Medicina Estácio de Juazeiro do Norte-Estácio, Juazeiro do Norte-CE, PE, Brazil.
Background:
The search for new active compounds from the Brazilian flora has intensified in recent years, especially for new drugs with antibiotic potential. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to determine whether riachin has antibiotic activity in itself or is able to modulate the activity of conventional antibiotics.
Methods:
A non-cyanogenic cyanoglycoside known as riachin was isolated from Bauhinia pentandra, and was tested alone and in combination with three antibiotics (clindamycin, amikacin, and gentamicin) against multiresistant bacterial strains (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus).
Results:
Riachin did not show significant antibiotic activity when tested alone against any strain (P>0.05). However, when combined with conventional antibiotics, it showed drug-modifying activity against strains of S. aureus exposed to clindamycin (P<0.001) as well as against P. aeruginosa exposed to amikacin (P<0.001). Although riachin did not show direct antibiotic activity, it had synergistic activity when combined with amikacin or clindamycin. The mechanism of action of this synergism is under investigation.
Conclusion:
The results of this work demonstrate that some substances of natural origin can enhance the effectiveness of certain antibiotics, which means a substantial reduction in the drug dose required and possibly in consequent adverse events for patients.
More Related Videos
13:18Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Trichosanthes-Fritillaria thunbergii Action Mechanism Against Lung Adenocarcinoma
Published on: March 3, 2023
07:28Metabolic Profiling to Determine Bactericidal or Bacteriostatic Effects of New Natural Products using Isothermal Microcalorimetry
Published on: October 29, 2020
Related Concept Videos
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance
Types of RNA
Three main types of RNA are involved in protein synthesis: messenger RNA (mRNA), transfer RNA (tRNA), and ribosomal RNA (rRNA). These RNAs perform diverse functions and can be broadly classified as protein-coding or non-coding RNA. Non-coding RNAs play important roles in the regulation of gene expression in response to developmental and environmental changes. Non-coding RNAs in prokaryotes can be manipulated to develop more effective antibacterial drugs for human or animal use.
RNA...
Gene Regulation in Microbial Communities: Quorum Sensing
Inhibitors of Bacterial Protein Synthesis
Development of Antibiotic Resistance
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA