Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a halophilic Gram-negative foodborne pathogen that is widely distributed in marine environments. It can cause acute gastroenteritis and other diseases. This study aimed to investigate the antivirulence activity of thymoquinone (TQ) on V. parahaemolyticus. TQ was shown to effectively inhibit V. parahaemolyticus. Subminimum inhibitory concentrations of TQ inhibited swimming and swarming motility, quorum sensing, biofilm formation, the ability of V. parahaemolyticus to adhere and invade the host cells, and the expression of virulence-associated genes of V. parahaemolyticus. These findings suggest that TQ can effectively inhibit the growth of V. parahaemolyticus and significantly reduce its pathogenicity. Considering its safety and various biological activities, TQ has the potential to be developed as a natural antibacterial substance to reduce the diseases associated with V. parahaemolyticus.
Keywords: Vibrio parahaemolyticus; quorum sensing; subminimum inhibitory concentration; thymoquinone; virulence factors.