Alkyl Gallates as Potential Antibiofilm Agents: A Review

Abstract

Biofilms, which consist of microorganisms embedded in a polymer-rich matrix, contribute to a variety of infections and increase antimicrobial resistance. Thus, there is a constant need to develop new chemotherapeutic agents to combat biofilms. This review article focuses on the use of alkyl gallates, gallic acid and its esters (methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, hexyl, octyl, and dodecyl gallate), most of which are found in plants, to inhibit biofilm formation. The studies under review reveal that alkyl gallates have the capacity to prevent biofilm development and eradicate mature biofilms through mechanisms that suppress the synthesis of the extracellular polymeric matrix, inhibit quorum-sensing signaling, and alter the microbial cell membrane. The effects are stronger the greater the length of the alkyl chain. Moreover, the alkyl gallates’ preventive activity against biofilm formation occurs at doses below the minimum inhibitory concentration. More importantly, combining alkyl gallates with antimicrobials or blue-light irradiation produces a synergistic effect on the inhibition of biofilm formation that can be used to treat infections and overcome microbial resistance.

Relato de experiência extensionista como evento online: “III Encontro de Microbiologia, Imunologia e Biotecnologia”

“…Sabe-se que a fermentação de uma cepa de levedura específica é utilizada na fabricação de cerveja e que a presença de bactérias pode produzir cervejas ácidas mais originais e refrescantes (Bouchez & De Vuyst, 2022). Avanços no campo da fermentação de leveduras produzindo álcool também são predominantes na biotecnologia industrial, tornando-se evidente o aparecimento de novos produtos oriundos de diversas leveduras, incluindo cepas não Saccharomyces (Eliodório et al, 2019) de alquila contra a formação de biofilme foi identificada combinada a irradiação com luz azul produzindo um efeito sinérgico na inibição do biofilme que pode ser usada para tratar infecções e superar a resistência microbiana (Rayan et al, 2023).…”

In Vitro Effect of Three-Antibiotic Combinations plus Potential Antibiofilm Agents against Biofilm-Producing Mycobacterium avium and Mycobacterium intracellulare Clinical Isolates

“…Additionally, ASAs have been shown to partially or totally revert resistance to colistin in yeast [ 38 ]. The mechanism of biofilm inhibition by alkyl gallates has already been described; it involves suppression of the production of extracellular polymeric substances and QS signaling, as well as damage to the microbial cell membrane [ 27 ]. Similarly, treatment with DDS abolishes the sensitivity of bacteria to environmental stimuli, causing the cells to be in a state of passivation [ 21 ] and decreasing the thickness of the biofilm in a concentration-dependent manner [ 46 ].…”

“…Recent reports have described several components of natural origin from numerous fruits, vegetables, and plants with antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity in Helicobacter Pylori , Staphylococcus aureus , P. aeruginosa , Listeria monocytogenes , and Escherichia coli . Emulsions and essential oils of peppermint and those containing composite eugenol essential oil [ 25 ], such as clove [ 26 ], oregano, cinnamon, chestnut, and sage—gallic-acid-rich food plants [ 27 ]—have been demonstrated to exhibit antibiofilm activity. Different combinations of two antibiofilm agents have also been demonstrated to exhibit antibiofilm activity in P. aeruginosa [ 28 , 29 ].…”