Inhibitory effect of obovatol from Magnolia obovata on the Salmonella type III secretion system

In many pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, such as Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Yersinia and Chlamydia spp., which cause diseases in humans, the type III secretion system (TTSS) is an important virulence factor that translocates effector proteins into the cytosol of host cells. Thus, the TTSS is a good target for antibacterial agents. Here we used a hemolysis assay to search for TTSS inhibitors and found that a compound from Magnolia obovata called obovatol blocks the TTSS of Salmonella. Obovatol showed potent inhibitory activity (IC₅₀=19.8 μM) against the TTSS-related hemolysis of Salmonella, which was not due to a reduction of bacterial growth. Instead, the compound inhibited bacterial motility, TTSS-related mRNA expression and effector protein secretion. These data demonstrate the inhibitory effect of obovatol on the Salmonella TTSS and suggest that it could be useful for the prevention and supplementary treatment of bacterial infections.