ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY OF ELLAGIC ACID AGAINST METHICILLINRESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS PLANKTONIC CELLS AND BIOFILM

Abstract

The antibacterial activity of the ellagic acid, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were estimated against planktonic and biofilm population of pathogenic methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates. Ellagic acid developed high antibacterial activity against free cells with a significant increase in this activity when combined with ciprofloxacin and gentamicin separately using alamar stain as an indicator in the checkerboard assay.Ciprofloxacin, gentamicin and ellagic acid demonstrated a synergistic effect against both planktonic and biofilm populations. Repression of biofilm development and maturity after incubation with certain concentrations of ellagic acid, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin were estimated by the modified crystal violet (CV) and thiazolyl blue tetrazolium bromide reduction (MTT) assay. The two antibiotics and the ellagic acid significantly inhibited the initial cell attachment of the MRSAon the polystyrene surface of the microtitre plate, with a significant inhibitory effect observed from the 3 incubation hour towards 24 h preformed biofilms. Metabolic activity of the MRSAbiofilm reduced extremely after incubation with ellagic acid, ciprofloxacin and gentamicin. Ellagic acid may be considered as a helpful additive in the development of new bactericidal and sanitizer formularization for the medical and pharmaceutical industry applications.