Grapefruit Seed Extract as a Natural Derived Antibacterial Substance against Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria.

Hee-Won Han,Tae-Su Jang,Hae-Won Kim,Jonathan Campbell Knowles,Jin-Hwan Kwak,Jung-Hwan Lee,Hae-Hyoung Lee

doi:10.3390/antibiotics10010085

Hee-Won Han, Tae-Su Jang + Show 5 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics10010085

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Abstract

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria are increasing due to the abuse and misuse of antibiotics, and nosocomial infections by MDR bacteria are also increasing. The aim of this study was to identify new substances that can target MDR bacteria among 12 plant extracts that are known to have antibacterial effects. The experiments were performed by the disk diffusion test and microdilution minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) test, as described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). By screening against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA), grapefruit seed extract (GSE) was selected from 12 plant extracts for subsequent experiments. GSE showed antibacterial effects against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA) in the disk diffusion test. Even at the lowest concentration, GSE showed antibacterial activity in the microdilution MIC test. As a result, we can conclude that GSE is a naturally derived antibacterial substance that exhibits a favorable antibacterial effect even at a very low concentration, so it is a good candidate for a natural substance that can be used to prevent or reduce nosocomial infections as coating for materials used in medical contexts or by mixing a small amount with other materials.

Highlights

The number of bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics continues to increase due to the misuse and abuse of antibiotics
The disk diffusion test is a standard method described by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and is an experimental method that can quickly and evaluate the antibacterial activity of many compounds [31]
Except for grapefruit seed extract (GSE), the other plant extracts showed no antibacterial effects against methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) in the disk diffusion test

Summary

Introduction

The number of bacterial strains that are resistant to antibiotics continues to increase due to the misuse and abuse of antibiotics. Bacteria that are resistant to several antibiotics are called multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which was first identified in the early 1960s [1], is resistant to other beta-lactam antibiotics, including those in the penicillin class and cephalosporin class, in addition to methicillin [2]. MDR bacteria constitute the leading cause of nosocomial infection, and outcomes in patients infected with MDR bacteria tend to be worse than for those infected by more sensitive organisms [3,4,5]. The mortality rate from MDR bacteria such as MRSA is significantly higher than for susceptible strains [6]. Efforts to discover new substances that can target MDR bacteria have become increasingly important

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