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Salicylic Acid and Its Boron Complexes as Quorum Sensing Molecules
Valery M Dembitsky1, Alexander O Terent'ev1, Leonid A Stolbov2
1N.D. Zelinsky Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninsky Prospect, 47, Moscow 119334, Russia.
Molecular Pharmaceutics
|September 30, 2025
Summary
Salicylic acid (SA) boron complexes show promise for controlling bacterial pathogens by inhibiting quorum sensing and biofilm formation. This approach may reduce antibiotic resistance by enhancing SA
Area of Science:
- Plant Science
- Microbiology
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Salicylic acid (SA) plays a vital role in plant defense and possesses antibacterial properties.
- SA forms water-soluble boron complexes, facilitating its transport in plants.
- Bacterial quorum sensing (QS) and biofilm formation are crucial for pathogen virulence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the biological significance of salicylic acid (SA) and its boron complexes.
- To explore the potential of SA-boron complexes as antibacterials targeting QS and biofilms.
- To investigate the synergistic effects of combining SA and boric acid derivatives.
Main Methods:
- Literature review on SA and its boron complexes.
- In silico analysis using the self-consistent extreme classifier (SCEC) to study QS and biofilm formation.
- Evaluation of the impact of boron complexation on SA's biological activities.
Main Results:
- SA-boron complexes exhibit quorum sensing inhibition and antibiofilm activity.
- In silico studies suggest combining SA and boric acid derivatives can enhance QS modulation.
- Boron complexation potentiates the antibacterial activities of SA and its conjugates.
Conclusions:
- SA-boron complexes offer a novel strategy to control bacterial pathogens by disrupting QS signaling.
- This approach may mitigate the development of antibiotic resistance.
- SA-boron complexes enhance the antibacterial efficacy of SA and its derivatives.
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