[Quercetin attenuates Staphylococcus aureus virulence by reducing alpha-toxin secretion]

Alpha toxin, a pore-forming protein with cytotoxic activity, is one of the major virulence factors secreted by most strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The relevance of this protein in the pathogenesis of pneumonia associated with S.aureus infections has already been established. Therefore, inhibiting alpha toxin secretion can be an alternative for controlling these infections. This study shows that quercetin, a naturally occurring flavonoid, inhibits hemolytic activity in a dose-dependent manner and reduces alpha toxin secretion in culture supernatants of methicillin-sensitive and methicillin-resistant S.aureus. Furthermore, quercetin significantly prevents damage to human alveolar cells when co-cultured with S.aureus. Our results suggest that quercetin can reduce S.aureus virulence by affecting alpha-toxin secretion.