Inhibitory effect of α-mangostin on Acinetobacter baumannii biofilms – an in vitro study

Abstract

The present study was designed to investigate the anti-biofilm potential of alpha-mangostin (α-MG) against Acinetobacter baumannii (AB). The biofilm inhibitory concentration (BIC) of α-MG against AB was found to be 2 μg ml⁻¹. α-MG (0.5, 1 and 2 μg ml⁻¹) exhibited non-bactericidal concentration-dependent anti-biofilm activities against AB. However, α-MG failed to disintegrate the mature biofilms of AB even at a 10-fold increased concentration from its BIC. Results from qRT-PCR and in vitro bioassays further demonstrated that α-MG downregulated the expression of bfmR, pgaA, pgaC, csuA/B, ompA, bap, katE, and sodB genes, which correspondingly affects biofilm formation and its associated virulence traits. The present study suggests that α-MG exerts its anti-biofilm property by interrupting initial biofilm formation and the cell-to-cell signaling mechanism of AB. Additional studies are required to understand the mode of action responsible for the anti-biofilm property.

Keywords:

• Acinetobacter baumannii
• alpha-mangostin
• biofilm
• quorum sensing
• catalase
• superoxide dismutase