Antimicrobial, Antivirulence, and Antiparasitic Potential of Capsicum chinense Jacq. Extracts and Their Isolated Compound Capsaicin

Ralciane de Paula Menezes; Meliza Arantes de Souza Bessa; Camila de Paula Siqueira; Samuel Cota Teixeira; Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro; Mário Machado Martins; Luis Carlos Scalon Cunha; Carlos Henrique Gomes Martins

doi:10.3390/antibiotics11091154

Antimicrobial, Antivirulence, and Antiparasitic Potential of Capsicum chinense Jacq. Extracts and Their Isolated Compound Capsaicin

Antibiotics (Basel). 2022 Aug 26;11(9):1154. doi: 10.3390/antibiotics11091154.

Authors

Ralciane de Paula Menezes^{1

2}, Meliza Arantes de Souza Bessa², Camila de Paula Siqueira², Samuel Cota Teixeira³, Eloisa Amália Vieira Ferro³, Mário Machado Martins⁴, Luis Carlos Scalon Cunha⁵, Carlos Henrique Gomes Martins²

Affiliations

¹ Technical School of Health, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-732, MG, Brazil.
² Laboratory of Antimicrobial Testing, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-732, MG, Brazil.
³ Laboratory of Immunophysiology of Reproduction, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-732, MG, Brazil.
⁴ Institute of Biotechnology, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia 38400-902, MG, Brazil.
⁵ Chemistry Department, Federal Institute of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38064-790, MG, Brazil.

Abstract

Bacterial, fungal, and parasitic infections increase morbimortality rates and hospital costs. This study aimed to assess the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities of the crude extract from the seeds and peel of the pepper Capsicum chinense Jacq. and of the isolated compound capsaicin and to evaluate their ability to inhibit biofilm formation, eradicate biofilm, and reduce hemolysin production by Candida species. The crude ethanolic and hexane extracts were obtained by maceration at room temperature, and their chemical compositions were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS). The antimicrobial activity of the samples was evaluated by determining the minimum inhibitory concentration. Inhibition of biofilm formation and biofilm eradication by the samples were evaluated based on biomass and cell viability. Reduction of Candida spp. hemolytic activity by the samples was determined on sheep blood agar plates. The antiparasitic action of the samples was evaluated by determining their ability to inhibit Toxoplasma gondii intracellular proliferation. LC-MS-ESI analyses helped to identify organic and phenolic acids, flavonoids, capsaicinoids, and fatty acids in the ethanolic extracts, as well as capsaicinoids and fatty acids in the hexane extracts. Antifungal action was more evident against C. glabrata and C. tropicalis. The samples inhibited biofilm formation and eradicated the biofilm formed by C. tropicalis more effectively. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of the samples significantly reduced the C. glabrata and C. tropicalis hemolytic activity. The samples only altered host cell viability when tested at higher concentrations; however, at non-toxic concentrations, they reduced T. gondii growth. In association with gold standard drugs used to treat toxoplasmosis, capsaicin improved their antiparasitic activity. These results are unprecedented and encouraging, indicating the Capsicum chinense Jacq. peel and seed extracts and capsaicin display antifungal and antiparasitic activities.

Keywords: Candida spp.; Capsicum chinense Jacq.; Toxoplasma gondii; antimicrobial activity; biofilm; capsaicin; virulence.

Grants and funding

This research received financial support of the Programa de Pós Graduação em Imunologia e Parasitologia aplicadas and Pró Reitoria de Pesquisa e Pós Graduação of the Federal University of Uberlândia.