Preprint / Version 1

Ocimum sanctum as a Source of Quorum Sensing Inhibitors to Combat Antibiotic Resistance of Human and Aquaculture Pathogens

Authors

  • Sybiya Abraham Division of Biotechnology, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641 114, Tamil Nadu, India
  • John Bosco Division of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641 114, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]
  • Raja Veerapandian Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA; [email protected]
  • Ramachandran Rajamanickam Department of Biotechnology, Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli 620 005, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]
  • Arul Devanesan Department of Biotechnology, The American College, Satellite Campus, Madurai 625 503, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]
  • Rajamanikandan Sundararaj Centre for Drug Discovery, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]
  • Jeba Dharmadhas Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641 043, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]
  • Nancy Mary Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected] (V.R.A.); [email protected] (N.I.M.)
  • Veera Arumugam Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected] (V.R.A.); [email protected] (N.I.M.)
  • Jeyapragash Danaraj Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Research Park, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Keywords:

biofilms, antibiotic resistance, quorum sensing inhibition, Ocimum sanctum, eugenol

Abstract

Biofilms play a decisive role in the infectious process and the development of antibiotic resistance. The establishment of bacterial biofilms is regulated by a signal-mediated cell–cell communication process called “quorum sensing” (QS). The identification of quorum sensing inhibitors (QSI) to mitigate the QS process may facilitate the development of novel treatment strategies for biofilm-based infections. In this study, the traditional medicinal plant Ocimum sanctum was screened for QS inhibitory potential. Sub-MICs of the extract significantly affected the secretion of EPS in Gram-negative human pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1, Proteus mirabilis, and Serratia marcescens, as well as aquaculture pathogens Vibrio harveyi, V. parahaemolyticus, and V. vulnificus, which render the bacteria more sensitive, leading to a loss of bacterial biomass from the substratum. The observed inhibitory activity of the O. sanctum extract might be attributed to the presence of eugenol, as evidenced through ultraviolet (UV)-visible, gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC–MS), Fourier transformer infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analyses, and computational studies. Additionally, the QSI potential of eugenol was corroborated through in vitro studies using the marker strain Chromobacterium violaceum. Keywords: biofilms, antibiotic resistance, quorum sensing inhibition, Ocimum sanctum, eugenol

Author Biographies

Sybiya Abraham, Division of Biotechnology, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641 114, Tamil Nadu, India

Conceptualization, Methodology, Investigation, Writing – original draft

John Bosco, Division of Electronics and Communication Engineering, Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences, Coimbatore 641 114, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Writing – review & editing

Raja Veerapandian, Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Center of Emphasis in Infectious Diseases, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX 79905, USA; [email protected]

Project administration

Ramachandran Rajamanickam, Department of Biotechnology, Srimad Andavan Arts and Science College (Autonomous), Tiruchirappalli 620 005, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Project administration

Arul Devanesan, Department of Biotechnology, The American College, Satellite Campus, Madurai 625 503, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Investigation, Writing – review & editing, Project administration

Rajamanikandan Sundararaj, Centre for Drug Discovery, Karpagam Academy of Higher Education, Coimbatore 641 021, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Investigation

Jeba Dharmadhas, Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Avinashilingam Institute for Home Science and Higher Education for Women, Coimbatore 641 043, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Formal analysis, Investigation, Writing – review & editing

Nancy Mary, Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected] (V.R.A.); [email protected] (N.I.M.)

Methodology, Formal analysis, Writing – review & editing

Veera Arumugam, Department of Biotechnology, Alagappa University, Karaikudi 630 003, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected] (V.R.A.); [email protected] (N.I.M.)

Conceptualization, Supervision

Jeyapragash Danaraj, Centre for Ocean Research, Sathyabama Research Park, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai 600 119, Tamil Nadu, India; [email protected]

Investigation, Writing – review & editing

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