Synergistic Antibiotic Activity of Ricini Semen Extract with Oxacillin against Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

Resistant bacteria are emerging as a critical problem in the treatment of bacterial infections by neutralizing antibiotic activity. The development of new traditional mechanisms of antibiotics is not the optimal solution. A more reasonable approach may be to use relatively safe, plant-based compounds in combination with conventional antibiotics in an effort to increase their efficacy or restore their activity against resistant bacteria. We present our study of mixing Ricini Semen extract, or its constituent fatty acids, with oxacillin and testing the effects of each on the growth of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Changes in the cell membrane fluidity of methicillin-resistant S. aureus were found to be a major component of the mechanism of synergistic antibiotic activity of Ricini Semen extract and its constituent fatty acids. In our model, changes in cellular membrane fluidity disrupted the normal function of bacterial signaling membrane proteins BlaR1 and MecR1, which are known to detect oxacillin, and resulted in the incomplete expression of penicillin-binding proteins 2a and β-lactamase. Utilizing the mechanism presented in this study presents the possibility of developing a method for treating antibiotic-resistant bacteria using traditional antibiotics with plant-based compounds.

Enhanced Efficacy of Ciprofloxacin and Tobramycin against Staphylococcus aureus When Combined with Corydalis Tuber and Berberine through Efflux Pump Inhibition

“…The Corydalis Tuber extract was prepared according to the method of a previous study [12]. Briefly, 15 g of dehydrated Corydalis Tuber, the tuber of Corydalis ternata Nakai, was crushed into 1 × 1 cm pieces, soaked in 150 mL of 95% ethyl alcohol (catalog number: 000E0219, Samchun Chemicals Co., Ltd.) and then extracted at 50 • C for 3 h, shaking every 30 min.…”

“…The evaluation of the MICs of the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and tobramycin, Corydalis Tuber extract, and berberine against the selected S. aureus strains was performed according to the method of a previous study [12]. Briefly, single colonies of the S. aureus strains streaked on TSA were selected and pre-cultured in 5 mL of TSB at 37 • C for 24 h. The pre-cultured cells were then inoculated into 5 mL of TSB to an optical density (OD) of 0.05 at a wavelength of 600 nm (OD 600 = 0.05).…”

“…Several previous studies have shown the synergistic activities of antibiotics and active chemical compounds in natural products [12][13][14][15]. For example, Ricini Semen extract and its active compound ricinoleic acid have been demonstrated to inhibit the expression of mecA, the gene encoding a penicillin-binding protein, showing synergistic effects with oxacillin [12]. Epigallocatechin gallate has been shown to disrupt the integrity of the cell wall of S. aureus and demonstrated synergistic activities with β-lactam antibiotics [16].…”

Contemporary Insights into the Biological Mechanisms of Parkia biglobosa

“…Bioactive components of essential oils might perturb the structural integrity of the microbial cell membrane bilayer, with consequential effects on cellular metabolism and eventual death [63]. Ricinoleic acid, palmitic acid, and stearic acid, which are found in the seed oil of Parkia biglobosa, have been shown to exert antibacterial properties primarily by altering the fluidity of cellular membranes and disrupting the functioning of crucial membrane proteins [64]. Banwo et al [59] stated that Parkia biglobosa's antibacterial activity may be due to its high polyphenolic contents, which is in line with a previous claim [65].…”