Aims
The study aimed to assess whether violacein has antimicrobial activity on Staphylococcus epidermidis and synergistically modulates the action of commercially available antimicrobial drugs.
Methods and Results
Violacein showed excellent antimicrobial activity on biofilm‐forming and nonbiofilm‐forming S. epidermidis strains (ATCC 35984) (ATCC 12228), with bacteriostatic (MIC = 20 μg ml−1 and 10 μg ml−1 respectively) and bactericidal effects (MBC = 20 μg ml−1 for both strains), observed in short periods of exposure. The violacein bactericidal concentration led to S. epidermidis death after 2–3 h of exposure. Additionally, violacein synergistically modulated the activity of different antimicrobial classes on S. epidermidis ATCC 12228 (81·8%; n = 9) and on S. epidermidis ATCC 35984 (54·5%; n = 6), reducing the MIC of these antibiotics by up to 16‐fold.
Conclusion
Violacein shows excellent antimicrobial activity on S. epidermidis strains.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Violacein shows the potential for the development of a new drug for the treatment of infections caused by S. epidermidis.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.