Title:Pyrogallol Induces Antimicrobial Effect and Cell Membrane Disruption
on Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Author(s): Yik-Ling Chew*, Chairunnisa Arasi and Joo-Kheng Goh
Affiliation:
- Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, UCSI University, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Keywords:
Pyrogallol, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, antibacterial, mechanism, cell membrane, peptidoglycan.
Abstract: Background: Pyrogallol is present naturally in numerous plants. It is also an important
functional group in many polyphenol compounds.
Objectives: The antibacterial activity, efficacy, and mechanism of pyrogallol towards MRSA
strains were evaluated.
Methods: Microbroth dilution method was used to determine the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration
(MIC) and Minimum Bactericidal Concentration (MBC). Time-kill kinetic assay was adopted
to determine the killing pattern of pyrogallol towards MRSA. The antibacterial mechanism was determined
using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy
and crystal violet assay.
Results: Pyrogallol exhibited strong antibacterial activity against MRSA with MIC and MBC 15.6
μg/mL. Pyrogallol could inhibit the exponential growth of MRSA and kill the bacterial cells at
higher concentrations. Pyrogallol was found targeting the cell membrane fatty acids, proteins/peptides,
polysaccharides/carbohydrates and peptidoglycan of cell walls in the antibacterial mechanism.
This has been confirmed through SEM, FT-IR spectroscopy and crystal violet assay.
Conclusion: Overall, the findings suggest that pyrogallol has the potential to be used as antibiotics
which are used to treat multidrug-resistant bacteria.