Chemical Profile, Antibacterial, Antibiofilm, and Antiviral Activities of Pulicaria crispa Most Potent Fraction: An In Vitro and In Silico Study

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by viruses and bacteria are a major public health concern worldwide, with the emergence of antibiotic resistance, biofilm-forming bacteria, viral epidemics, and the lack of effective antibacterial and antiviral agents exacerbating the problem. In an effort to search for new antimicrobial agents, this study aimed to screen antibacterial and antiviral activity of the total methanol extract and its various fractions of Pulicaria crispa (P. crispa) aerial parts. The P. crispa hexane fraction (HF) was found to have the strongest antibacterial effect against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including biofilm producers. The HF fraction reduced the expression levels of penicillin binding protein (PBP2A) and DNA gyrase B enzymes in Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, respectively. Additionally, the HF fraction displayed the most potent antiviral activity, especially against influenza A virus, affecting different stages of the virus lifecycle. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis of the HF fraction identified 27 compounds, mainly belonging to the sterol class, with β-sitosterol, phytol, stigmasterol, and lupeol as the most abundant compounds. The in silico study revealed that these compounds were active against influenza A nucleoprotein and polymerase, PBP2A, and DNA gyrase B. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the chemical composition and mechanism of action of the P. crispa HF fraction, which may lead to the development of more effective treatments for bacterial and viral infections.

Pulicaria incisa (Lam.) DC. as a Potential Source of Antioxidant, Antibacterial, and Anti-Enzymatic Bioactive Molecules: Phytochemical Constituents, In Vitro and In Silico Pharmacological Analysis

“…The analysis revealed significant bacterial activities of both extracts against various Gram-positive (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus) and Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria (Acinetobacter baumannii, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa). A similar finding was previously observed in P. crispa extracts [32]. In fact, the same authors reported that hexane fractions from P. crispa had antibacterial activities against four bacterial pathogens (S. aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, E. coli, and P. aeruginosa), with MIC values ranging from 62.5 to 125 µg/mL, and were able to affect influenza A virus at various stages of its lifecycle.…”

“…Bip. extracts induced various potencies on bacterial detachment from polystyrene surfaces [32]. It has been suggested that the interaction of the extracts is dependent on bacterial metabolism.…”

The Effect of a Tribulus-Based Formulation in Alleviating Cholinergic System Impairment and Scopolamine-Induced Memory Loss in Zebrafish (Danio rerio): Insights from Molecular Docking and In Vitro/In Vivo Approaches

“…The poses of the compounds with the highest scores were selected. We utilized the Biovia discovery-studio 2020 visualizer to examine the representation of protein–ligand interactions in the active site of the complex [ 59 ].…”

An Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical Analysis, Antimicrobial and Biological Studies of Pulicaria crispa as a Graze Promising Shrub

“…These include sterols like -sitosterol, stigmasterol, and lupeol; terpenes such as phytol; alkaloids like pulicarine and pulicaridine; flavonoids including quercetin, kaempferol, and luteolin; and phenols such as caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and gallic acid. These compounds have been associated with a range of biological activities, including antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, anticancer, and anti-inflammatory effects [14,15]. To date, there has been a lack of research investigating the antimicrobial properties of an P. crispa extract against animal-sourced pathogens, despite its use as a grazing herb that is instinctively consumed by camels and small ruminants for its potential medicinal benefits.…”