Murraya koenigii methanolic extract inhibits bacterial growth and biofilm of Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus...

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Pharmacology
• Natural Products Chemistry

Background:

• Hospital-acquired infections caused by Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis are major global health concerns.
• These pathogens' ability to form biofilms contributes to antibiotic resistance and environmental persistence.
• There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic strategies to combat these resilient infections.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the in vitro efficacy of Murraya koenigii methanolic leaf extract (MKM) against Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus faecalis.
• To evaluate the extract's impact on bacterial growth, biofilm formation, and membrane integrity.
• To identify bioactive compounds in MKM and assess their potential therapeutic applications through in silico analyses.

Main Methods:

• In vitro antimicrobial activity testing, including Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination.
• Flow cytometry and confocal imaging to assess membrane damage.
• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for biofilm architecture visualization.
• High-Resolution Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (HR-LC/MS) for compound identification and ADME analysis.
• In silico molecular docking studies against bacterial biofilm-related proteins.

Main Results:

• MKM extract demonstrated significant inhibition of both S. aureus and E. faecalis growth at their respective MICs.
• The extract caused substantial membrane damage in treated bacterial cells.
• MKM extract effectively disrupted biofilm formation and reduced extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production.
• SEM confirmed the disruption of biofilm architecture.
• In silico analyses revealed strong binding affinities of identified compounds with key biofilm proteins (SpA and Esp).

Conclusions:

• Murraya koenigii methanolic leaf extract possesses significant antimicrobial and anti-biofilm properties against S. aureus and E. faecalis.
• The extract's mechanism involves membrane damage and disruption of biofilm matrix.
• Identified bioactive compounds show potential for developing new phytotherapeutic strategies against biofilm-associated infections.
• MKM extract represents a promising natural resource for combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.