Curcumin inhibits the SOS response induced by levofloxacin in Escherichia coli

Phytomedicine. 2014 Mar 15;21(4):430-4. doi: 10.1016/j.phymed.2013.10.011. Epub 2013 Nov 17.

Abstract

The role of RecA protein in bacterial resistance to antibiotics makes this protein attractive from a pharmacological point of view. In this study we demonstrate that curcumin is able to inhibit the SOS response in Escherichia coli induced by levofloxacin. The blaTEM-1 gene has been placed under the control of the LexA-binding box and used as reporter gene. The expression of TEM-1 β-lactamase enzyme was increased in the presence of ssDNA induced by levofloxacin, while, the presence of curcumin at 8μg/ml, reduced dramatically the expression of the reporter gene. Moreover a simple microplate assay suitable for high-throughput screening has been developed.

Keywords: Bacterial SOS response; Curcumin; Levofloxacin.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / pharmacology*
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • Curcumin / pharmacology*
  • Drug Resistance, Bacterial
  • Escherichia coli
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Levofloxacin / pharmacology*
  • SOS Response, Genetics / drug effects*
  • Serine Endopeptidases

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacterial Proteins
  • LexA protein, Bacteria
  • Levofloxacin
  • Serine Endopeptidases
  • Curcumin