Bacterial Quorum Sensing Inhibition Activity of the Traditional Chinese Herbs, Ficus carica L. and Perilla frutescens.

BACKGROUND

Quorum sensing (QS), as the basis of bacterial cell-to-cell communication, is a promising approach to reduce the incidence of multidrug resistance. The objective of this study was to search for novel quorum sensing inhibitors from plants and control detrimental infections.

METHODS

The crude extracts of Ficus carica and Perilla frutescens were examined for their anti-QS properties. Powdered plant samples were treated sequentially with organic solvents of increasing polarity. The extracts of each solvent were concentrated in vacuo to give crude extracts and tested against Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PA01 especially. Anti-QS activity was measured by quantifying violacein production and swarming motility.

RESULTS

All extracts of these two plants display anti-QS ability. Interestingly, the extract of F. carica with dichloromethane and of P. frutescens with MeOH exhibited the most pronounced inhibition of QS activity.

CONCLUSIONS

These two plants can offer bioactive natural products with potential for attenuating pathogens.