Inhibition of MMP-2/MMP-9 and biofilm formation by 4,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone (THF): a promising therapeutic approach against Enterococcus gallinarum endocarditis

Biofilm formation and antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are critical global health concerns, necessitating the discovery of novel therapeutic compounds. Enterococcus gallinarum, an opportunistic pathogen intrinsically resistant to vancomycin, is responsible for severe infections, often leading to endocarditis, bloodstream dissemination, immune dysregulation, and tissue damage. The limited efficacy of existing treatments underscores the urgent need for alternative therapeutic strategies. Recently, we reported the efficacy of 4,5,7-trihydroxyflavanone (THF) as an exhibited potential antimicrobial agent. In this study, the antibiofilm activity of THF against E. gallinarum was examined. In addition, the role of THF in preventing infection and mortality in zebrafish was also analysed using histopathological studies. The host-drug interaction was investigated through a network pharmacology approach for bacterial endocarditis. The top hub genes found in this analysis were docked with THF using the Glide XP protocol, and simulations were performed by GROMACS version 2020. The results suggest the potential of THF in inhibiting bacterial adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) and the disruption of mature biofilms. The histopathological results showed significantly recovered tissues after THF treatment. Furthermore, the network pharmacology studies of bacterial endocarditis disease revealed the identification of top hub genes MMP-2 and MMP-9, which have the function of binding to ECM and causing inflammation. The molecular docking and dynamics simulations performed between MMP-2 & MMP-9 showed a strong binding score of -4.652 kcal/mol & -7.597 kcal/mol between THF and MMP-2 & MMP-9, suggesting the anti-inflammatory potential of THF as well. This significant influence on host-pathogen interactions, particularly in modulating immune responses and inflammation, makes it a promising drug candidate for bacterial infections and necessitates its consideration for future research and studies.