Abstract
BackgroundBauhinia kockiana originates from Peninsular Malaysia and it is grown as a garden ornamental plant. Our previous study reported that this plant exhibited fairly strong antioxidant and antimicrobial activities. This paper focused on the assessment of the antibacterial activity of B. kockiana towards methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), to purify and to identify the antibacterial compounds, and to determine the mechanism of antibacterial activity.MethodsAntibacterial activity of B. kockiana flower was evaluated qualitatively and quantitatively using disc diffusion assay and microbroth dilution method. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of extracts were examined. Phytochemical analysis was performed to determine the classes of phytochemicals in the extracts. Bioactivity guided isolation was employed to purify the antibacterial agents and identified via various spectroscopy methods. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique was used to evaluate the antibacterial mechanism of extract and compounds isolated.ResultsB. kockiana flower was found to exhibit fairly strong antibacterial activity towards both strains of MRSA bacteria used, MIC varies from 62.5–250 μg/mL. Tannins and flavonoids have been detected in the phytochemical analysis. Gallic acid and its ester derivatives purified from ethyl acetate extract could inhibit MRSA at 250–500 μg/mL. SEM revealed that the cells have undergone plasmolysis upon treatment with the extract and compounds.ConclusionTannins and polyphenols are the antibacterial components towards MRSA in B. kockiana. Massive leakage of the cell content observed in treated cells showed that the phytochemicals have changed the properties of the cell membranes. Amphiphilic nature of the compounds exhibited the antibacterial activity towards MRSA via three stages: (1) cell membrane attachment; (2) cell membrane fluidity modification; and (3) cell membrane structure disruption.
Highlights
Bauhinia kockiana originates from Peninsular Malaysia and it is grown as a garden ornamental plant
The emergence of first clinical infection with methicillin-resistance Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which is resistant to vancomycin – vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) on July 2002 [7]. and the multidrug resistance bacteria in European hospitals have globally alarms us that new candidate of antibiotic is needed since the treatment options for infected patients are extremely limited at the moment [8]
Antibacterial activity of extracts toward MRSA and the phytochemical content The qualitative analysis using disc diffusion assay showed that no inhibition in both hexane and dichloromethane extracts (Table 1)
Summary
Bauhinia kockiana originates from Peninsular Malaysia and it is grown as a garden ornamental plant. Bacteria develop resistance towards antibiotic through overuse or misuse of antibiotics. Chew et al BMC Complementary and Alternative Medicine (2018) 18:70 on the skin surface of human. It can develop into an opportunistic pathogen and causing infections to any wound and opening of the skin. MRSA has evolved and developed resistance towards the β-lactam antibiotics which are previously used as antibacterial agents, such as methicillin, penicillin, oxacillin, amoxicillin and cephalosporins [4]. The first line antibiotic to treat MRSA infection is vancomycin. The multidrug resistance bacteria in European hospitals have globally alarms us that new candidate of antibiotic is needed since the treatment options for infected patients are extremely limited at the moment [8] The emergence of first clinical infection with MRSA which is resistant to vancomycin – vancomycin resistant S. aureus (VRSA) on July 2002 [7]. and the multidrug resistance bacteria in European hospitals have globally alarms us that new candidate of antibiotic is needed since the treatment options for infected patients are extremely limited at the moment [8]
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