Anti-Virulence Potential and In Vivo Toxicity of Persicaria maculosa and Bistorta officinalis Extracts

Abstract

Many traditional remedies represent potential candidates for integration with modern medical practice, but credible data on their activities are often scarce. For the first time, the anti-virulence potential and the safety for human use of the ethanol extracts of two medicinal plants, Persicaria maculosa (PEM) and Bistorta officinalis (BIO), have been addressed. Ethanol extracts of both plants exhibited anti-virulence activity against the medically important opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. At the subinhibitory concentration of 50 µg/mL, the extracts demonstrated a maximal inhibitory effect (approx. 50%) against biofilm formation, the highest reduction of pyocyanin production (47% for PEM and 59% for BIO) and completely halted the swarming motility of P. aeruginosa. Both extracts demonstrated better anti-quorum sensing and antibiofilm activities, and a better ability to interfere with LasR receptor, than the tested dominant extracts' constituents. The bioactive concentrations of the extracts were not toxic in the zebrafish model system. This study represents an initial step towards the integration of P. maculosa and B. officinalis for use in the treatment of Pseudomonas infections.

Antibiofilm and anti-quorum sensing activity of Psidium guajava L. leaf extract: In vitro and in silico approach

“…As depicted in Fig 2 , the non-purple zone on agar indicates anti-QS activity. This observation aligns with previous studies involving plant extracts like Persicaria maculosa and Bistorta officinalis that effectively inhibit violacein production [ 38 , 39 ]. Artemisia argyi leaves extract also reduced violacein formation in C .…”

Morphological, anatomical and antibacterial characteristics of Persicaria maculosa Gray plants growing in Lang Sen Wetland Reserve, Long An province, Vietnam

“…The efficacy of P. maculosa extracts on different bacterial strains had been reported. If the ethanol extract in the experiment of Jovanović et al [7] was effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa at a concentration of 50 µg/mL, at concentrations up to 5 mg/mL it was also ineffective against Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis. Some documents in Vietnam recommend using the whole plant or the root part in the treatment of diseases [2,4], but through this study, it could be seen that the leaves were the part that proved effective in the antiseptic treatment of folk remedies.…”

“…Even the suitable climatic conditions for the reproduction of this plant in countries with cold winters were different from those in a tropical country like Vietnam. In the world, studies on the anatomy, anti-proliferative and anti-cancer, and bacterial resistance of this species was published [5][6][7]. The medicinal properties of P. persicaria was also mentioned in the Russian Pharmacopoeia [8].…”

Microbial Biofilms: Applications, Clinical Consequences, and Alternative Therapies

“…Ethanolic extracts of Persicaria maculosa and Bistorta officinalis have anti-virulence capabilities against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. They inhibit biofilm formation by affecting the swimming motility of pathogenic bacteria and are not toxic to the host [ 167 ]. This suggests the possible use of plants as the primary source of extracting anti-virulence and anti-biofilm compounds, although more research is needed.…”