The mechanism of antimicrobial activity of sophoraflavanone B against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Foodborne Pathog Dis. 2014 Mar;11(3):234-9. doi: 10.1089/fpd.2013.1627.

Abstract

Sophoraflavanone B (SPF-B), a prenylated flavonoid, can be isolated from the roots of Desmodium caudatum. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanism of SPF-B's antimicrobial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). MRSA is a multidrug-resistant pathogen and the main cause of hospital- and community-acquired infections. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of SPF-B was assessed using the broth microdilution method. The mechanism of action of SPF-B on S. aureus was analyzed in combination assays incorporating detergents, ATPase inhibitors, and peptidoglycan (PGN) derived from S. aureus. Furthermore, morphological changes in the SPF-B-treated MRSA strains were investigated using transmission electron microscopy. The MIC of SPF-B for MRSA was in the range of 15.6-31.25 μg/mL. The mechanism of action of SPF-B on MRSA was investigated using combination assays with detergent and ATPase inhibitors. The optical density at 600 nm of MRSA suspensions treated with a combination of detergent and SPF-B reduced the MRSA by 63%-73%. In the SPF-B and PGN combination assay, direct binding of SPF-B with PGN from S. aureus was evident. These data may be validated for the development of new antibacterial drugs for low MRSA resistance.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anti-Infective Agents / chemistry
  • Anti-Infective Agents / metabolism
  • Anti-Infective Agents / pharmacology*
  • Cell Wall / drug effects
  • Cell Wall / metabolism
  • Cell Wall / ultrastructure
  • Detergents / pharmacology
  • Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide / pharmacology
  • Flavanones / chemistry
  • Flavanones / metabolism
  • Flavanones / pharmacology*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects*
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / metabolism
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / ultrastructure
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Peptidoglycan / metabolism*

Substances

  • Anti-Infective Agents
  • Detergents
  • Flavanones
  • Peptidoglycan
  • sophoraflavonone B
  • Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide