Piper nigrum, Piper betle and Gnetum gnemon--natural food sources with anti-quorum sensing properties

Sensors (Basel). 2013 Mar 20;13(3):3975-85. doi: 10.3390/s130303975.

Abstract

Various parts of Piper nigrum, Piper betle and Gnetum gnemon are used as food sources by Malaysians. The purpose of this study is to examine the anti-quorum sensing (anti-QS) properties of P. nigrum, P. betle and G. gnemon extracts. The hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts of these plants were assessed in bioassays involving Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01, Escherichia coli [pSB401], E. coli [pSB1075] and Chromobacterium violaceum CV026. It was found that the extracts of these three plants have anti-QS ability. Interestingly, the hexane, chloroform and methanol extracts from P. betle showed the most potent anti-QS activity as judged by the bioassays. Since there is a variety of plants that serve as food sources in Malaysia that have yet to be tested for anti-QS activity, future work should focus on identification of these plants and isolation of the anti-QS compounds.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Chromobacterium / drug effects
  • Escherichia coli / drug effects
  • Gnetum / chemistry
  • Malaysia
  • Piper betle / chemistry
  • Piper nigrum / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts* / chemistry
  • Plant Extracts* / pharmacology
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Quorum Sensing / drug effects*

Substances

  • Plant Extracts