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Article

A Molecular Insight into the Synergistic Mechanism of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with β-Lactam Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

by
Lorina I. Badger-Emeka
1,*,
Promise Madu Emeka
2 and
Hairul Islam M. Ibrahim
3
1
Department of Biomedical Sciences, Microbiology Division, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
2
Department of Pharmaceutical Science, College of Clinical Pharmacy, King Faisal University, Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
3
Department of Biological Sciences, College of Science, King Faisal University, Hofuf 31982, Saudi Arabia
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(7), 3206; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073206
Submission received: 15 March 2021 / Revised: 28 March 2021 / Accepted: 31 March 2021 / Published: 2 April 2021
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant-Based Bioactive Natural Products: Insights into Molecular Mechanisms of Action)
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Versions Notes

Abstract

:
Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is detrimental to hospitalized patients. With diminishing choices of antibiotics and the worry about resistance to colistin in synergistic combined therapy, there are suggestions for the use of herbal derivatives. This investigation evaluated the synergistic effects of Nigella sativa (NS) in combination with beta-lactam (β-lactam) antibiotics on extreme drug-resistant (XDR) MRSA isolates. NS concentrations of 10, 7.5, 5.0, 2.5, 1.0, and 0.1 µg/mL, alone and in combination with β-lactam antibiotics, were used to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility of MRSA isolates by the well diffusion method. Time–kill assays were performed using a spectrophotometer, with time–kill curves plotted and synergism ascertained by the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC). Scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to gain insight into the mechanism of action of treated groups. Isolates were inhibited by the NS concentrations, with differences in the zones of inhibition being statistically insignificant at p < 0.05. There were statistically significant differences in the time–kill assay for the MRSA isolates. In addition, NS combined with augmentin showed better killing than oxacillin and cefuroxime. The mechanism of action shown by the SEM and TEM results revealed cell wall disruption, which probably created interference that led to bacterial lysis.

1. Introduction

The ongoing healthcare problems attributed to multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacterial infections that are difficult to treat continue to plague healthcare systems globally. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), one bacterium causing such an infection, remains a pathogen in various regions of the world [1]. Like all MDR bacterial infections, MRSA-linked infections can be associated with extended patient hospitalization, high morbidity, and mortality, especially in immunocompromised patients [1,2,3]. β-lactam antibiotics were the preferred drugs for the treatment of infections resulting from methicillin-resistant S. aureus. Vancomycin, a glycopeptide, still serves as the drug of choice in the treatment of MDR S. aureus infections. However, the bacterium has developed resistance to the β-lactams as well as vancomycin [4,5]. Thus, there is a decrease in the number of exogenous antibiotics for treating drug-resistant infections [3]. With a diminishing number of antimicrobials of choice, researchers have called for rationalization on the use of available antibiotics. This is intended to help reduce the rate at which MDR and pan-resistant bacterial superbugs are evolving to prevent the world from being taken back to the pre-antibiotic era [6,7]. Other suggestions are to look into alternatives to antimicrobial treatment due to bacterial resistance to systemic monotherapy that has overtaken the rate of production of new antibiotics [8]. One such alternative is the use of a combination of antibiotics [9]. It is postulated that such combined therapeutic measures could lead to successful management of patients with extreme drug-resistant (XDR) bacterial infections [10,11,12]. However, the double and triple combined antibiotic therapies suggested by the researchers were all colistin-based [13]. Presently, colistin is a last-line therapeutic option in the treatment of difficult bacterial infections. Besides the toxicity of the drug, there is a growing resistance to this last-line drug, as reported globally [14,15,16,17]. These reports necessitate the continued search for alternative antibiotic combinations that will exclude colistin in combined therapeutic measures [18]. There are also suggestions that such antibiotic synergistic combinations might not necessarily be the optimal options because it is thought that, as treatment progresses, there will be diminishing strength in antibiotic synergism [19]. However, as the problem of difficult-to-treat bacterial superbugs persists, the attention of researchers is currently focused on the use of herbal derivatives with antimicrobial properties, with suggestions that such plants could be synergistic enhancers [20,21]. It is thought that such combined therapy can help with expanding the spectrum of antibiotics as well as being less toxic while preventing the emergence of resistant bacteria strains [22].
Due to the expected significant advantages associated with phytotherapy, several researchers are now looking into the effectiveness of combinations of conventional antimicrobials and plant derivatives with antimicrobial properties [22,23,24]. This is expected to provide less toxic antimicrobial herbal alternatives that could be used as combined therapies in the treatment of XDR bacterial infections. One such plant reported by researchers in different regions of the world due to its impressive antimicrobial properties is Nigella sativa (NS), or black cumin [25,26,27]. In our previous study, we combined N. sativa with chloroquine in the treatment of malaria induced in mice with Plasmodium berghei [28]. The obtained results showed significant parasite clearance over a significant period, indicating that NS potentiated the effect of chloroquine when compared with chloroquine alone. Middle Eastern and Far Eastern countries have used Nigella sativa oil as a natural remedy or as a condiment/spice in food and food products from ancient times. As documented earlier, there is abundant evidence that Nigella sativa oil has been used in combination with synthetic medicines to treat various diseases due to its strong anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties [28]. Studies have shown that Nigella sativa essential oil contains both volatile and nonvolatile bioactive compounds. It also contains alkaloids, saponins, and terpenoids, which are reported to possess antimicrobial activity [27]. Thymoquinone and thymol are the most reported active volatile constituents, possessing antitumor, antihistaminic, antidiabetic, antihypertensive, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial abilities. Numerous studies have reported the antimicrobial and antiparasitic activities [28].
The present work therefore looks at a possible synergistic effect of N. sativa with common antibiotics that show treatment failures with bacterial infections due to resistance to these drugs. The use of N. sativa with the aforementioned antibiotics could enhance their antimicrobial efficacy. This study aims at evaluating the synergistic effect of combining N. sativa with oxacillin (OXA), augmentin (AUG), and cefuroxime (CEF) on different XDR MRSA isolates, as well as looking into the possible mechanism of action of N. sativa on the isolates.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Ethical Considerations

Approval for the research was given by the Deanship of Scientific Research (approval number: 186388). MRSA clinical isolates were from routine hospital diagnoses for care of patients. They were from the microbial bank at the College of Medicine, Medical Microbiology division, of King Faisal University.

2.2. Bacterial Isolates and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Determination

Six non-replicate clinical MRSA isolates from specimens of blood, sputum, pus, and wound swaps were used for the investigation. They had been stored in the Microbank of the Microbiology division of the College of Medicine, King Faisal University at a temperature of ‒80 °C. They were cultured on blood agar and incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 h. Isolates were identified with a Vitek compact 2 automated system (BioMerieux, Marcy L’Etoile, France) using the Gram-positive ID cards according to the guidelines of the manufacturer. The antimicrobial susceptibility and minimum inhibitory concentrations were determined using the AST-GN cards of the Vitek 2 compact automated system (BioMerieux, Marcy L’Etoile, France). They were against the following antibiotics: augmentin (AUG), benzyl penicillin (BENZ), oxacillin (OXA), cefuroxime (CEF), cefuroxime/axetil (CEF/AXE), clindamycin (CLD), amikacin (AK), imipenem (IMP), ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin (LEVO), erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), tigecycline (TG), tetracycline (TET), rifampicin (RIF), and gentamicin (GEN). Confirmation of resistance against imipenem (IMP), tigecycline (TG), and amikacin was by disc diffusion method (Oxoid Ltd., Basingstoke UK). All of the MRSA isolates had been confirmed by the presence of the mecA gene.

2.3. Nigella sativa and MRSA Susceptibility Test

Nigella sativa (NS) black seed oil, a product of Al Hussan Food Products Factory, Riyadh was purchased from a local herbal medicine shop in Al-Ahsa, Saudi Arabia. According to the manufacturer, it is 100% pure organic cold pressed oil. Undiluted and diluted forms of the oil extract were used for the investigation. Oil extract was diluted in 0.2% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) to obtain concentrations of 1000 µg/mL, 750 µg/mL, 500 µg/mL, 250 µg/mL, and 100 µg/mL dilutions, representing 100%, 75%, 50%, 25%, and 10% concentrations. In these, 0.01 mL of each concentration was used to make the actual concentrations 10, 7.5, 5.0, 2.5, and 1.0 µg/mL. The susceptibility of the isolates was tested against these dilutions of NS by the well diffusion method. Mueller‒Hinton agar (MHA) was seeded with each bacterial isolate and spread out to cover the entire surface of the agar using sterile cotton swabs, moistened with the bacterial suspension [29,30]. Seven evenly distributed wells were punched into the MHA using a sterile cork borer of 6 mm diameter. The six NS dilutions were introduced into the wells aseptically, while the seventh well, serving as the control, was filled with an equal volume of 0.2% DMSO. All plates were allowed to diffuse under room temperature for 1 h according to the recommendations of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory standards (NCCLS). All plates were incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 h in an upright position. Experiments were carried out in three replicates with zones of inhibition measured in millimeters (mm) 24 h post-incubation, and the results are presented as means ± standard deviation.

2.4. Determination of Time–Kill Assay

The CLSI guidelines were used for the determination of the time–kill assay using a nutrient broth (NB) [31]. MRSA bacteria strains 1, 4, and 5, which were randomly selected from six phenotypically different isolates, were inoculated into tubes containing NB to form a 5 × 105 CFU/mL bacteria suspension. They were each tested against combinations of NS, OXA, AUG, and CEF and for the time–kill assay. Tubes contained NB, a bacterial strain, and NS, while a second set had the bacterial strain, NB, NS, and one antibiotic. According to the McFarland standard, all bacterial suspensions were diluted to about 106 CFU/mL and incubated aerobically at 37 °C in an orbital shaker for 48 h. At hours 0, 1, 3, 6, 24, and 48, 2 mL of each suspension were drawn out from each tube and inoculated into blood agar. The inoculum was spread out using sterile inoculating loops, with all plates incubated aerobically at 37 °C for 24 h. The viability of the MRSA isolates was evaluated by counting the bacterial colonies or noting the lack of microbial growth [3], while time–kill analysis curves were plotted with synergism, defined as described earlier [32,33].

2.5. Antimicrobial Synergistic NS and β-Lactam Antibiotics Assay

Bacterial strains were tested against the two concentrations of NS (7.5 µg/mL and 5.0 µg/mL) and each with the combination of the three β-lactam antibiotics to evaluate the synergistic activity with oxacillin (OXA), augmentin (AUG), and cefuroxime (CEF). The antimicrobial agents were used at their break points (OXA: 1 mg; AUG: 20/10 mg; CEF: 30 mg). Synergistic assay on MRSA strains 1, 4, and 5 was accessed using a spectrophotometer (BOECO, Hamburg Germany) with the additive/synergy effect calculated as earlier described [32,34,35]. Accordingly, the fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) of each agent was calculated using the following formula:
OD600 of wells of agent in combination with the drug.
OD600 of wells of agent alone.

2.6. Molecular Assay by SEM and TEM Microscopy

SEM and TEM imaging were performed to evaluate the treatment effects on both the bacterial surface and within bacterial cells. The previously described method was used for the preparation of MRSA bacterial samples for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) [36]. Treated bacterial cultures as well as untreated samples that served as controls were incubated in a shaker incubator at 37 °C for 24 h. The resulting samples were centrifuged and prefixed in a 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution at 4 °C for 24 h, after which they were rinsed in PBS and post-fixed with 100% acetone applied at the last stage. Gold sputtering was used to obtain a layer 20 nm thick. The images were obtained with SEM (JSM 6390 LA, JEOL, Tokyo, Japan) at a 15 KV accelerating voltage.
Preparation and observation of TEM microscopy samples is as described previously, but with modifications [37,38]. Slices of selected MRSA bacterial samples were fixed by immersion in 2.5% glutaraldehyde (GA) in a 0.1 M sodium cacodylate buffer with pH 7.4 at a temperature of 4 °C for 1 h, then washed in cacodylate buffer. All bacterial samples were double-fixed in 1% osmium tetroxide (OsO4) in a cacodylate buffer at room temperature for 90 min. They were then dehydrated in acetone and embedded in Epon-Araldite (502 kit, Pelco, CA, USA). Then, 500–1000 nm sections of bacteria samples were obtained in a Leica EM UC6 (Wetzlar, Germany), ultra-microtome mounted on glass slides, stained with 1% toluidine blue stain. For light microscopy observations, bacterial samples were further dissected to 50‒70 nm [37]. Staining of Epon-sectioned samples was carried out with the Leica automated EM stain (0.5% uranyl acetate and 3% lead citrate). All samples’ sections were scanned and examined using JEM 1011 (JEOL) electron microscope at 80 kv.

2.7. Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) Analysis

The extract of 100% pure organic cold pressed oil of Nigella sativa was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS), and data were recorded on a GCMS-QP2010 Plus (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan). The column used was a RTX-5MS® fused silica capillary (30 m × 0.25 mm i.d and 0.25 μm film thickness); the oven temperature initially was held at 45 °C for 2 min and then increased to 280 °C at 4 °C/min. The carrier gas was helium with a flow rate of 2.0 mL/min; the temperature of the injector and detector were 250 and 300 °C, respectively, the split ratio was 1:30, and the injection volume was 1 μL. The ionization energy for the mass spectrometer was 70 eV. Identification of components was confirmed from the mass spectra library.

2.8. Statistical Analysis

Data are presented as the mean ± SD and the susceptibility analysis is presented in percentages. GraphPad Prism version 8.0 (San Diego, CA, USA) statistical software was used for statistical interpretation of the results. Two-way ANOVA, applying Tukey’s multiple comparison test, was used to assess the statistical significance of zones of inhibition of various concentrations of NS on the different MRSA isolates. Additionally, one-way ANOVA, multiple comparison was used to compare the time–kill assay results and to determine the existence of any significant differences. Significance was taken to be p < 0.05 and p-values were calculated between groups.

3. Results

3.1. Antimicrobial Susceptibility of the MRSA Isolates

The MRSA isolates in this investigation were highly resistant to other antibiotics, with the exception of tigecycline and gentamicin, with resistance of 17% and 33%, respectively (Figure 1). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) results are shown in Table 1. Differences in antimicrobial susceptibility and MIC values show that the isolates differ phenotypically. This difference is also seen in the antimicrobial susceptibility to the dilutions of NS, as shown in Figure 2 for all the MRSA isolates. All the isolates were inhibited by the various concentrations of NS, including the lowest concentration of 0.1 µg/mL, as shown in Figure 2. The least effective of the NS concentrations against the MRSA isolates was 0.1 µg/mL, which exhibited the lowest inhibitory effect among the isolates, with the exception of MRSA 2. Overall, there was no specific pattern in antimicrobial inhibition, as all the isolates responded differently to the NS dilutions. The mean zone of inhibition for MRSA 5 and 6 was more with the 10 µg/mL NS concentration, while MRSA 2 and 3 were inhibited more by the 7.5 and 5.0 µg/mL NS concentrations. For all the isolates, a comparison of differences in mean zones of inhibition between 10.0 µg/mL NS and 7.5, 5.0, and 2.5 µg/mL was not found to be statistically significant.
However, comparisons of the mean zones of inhibition for all the isolates with a 10 µg/mL NS concentration and with 1.0 µg/mL as well as 0.1 µg/mL showed statistically significant differences, with p-values of 0.034 and 0.0001, respectively. Additionally, comparisons of the mean zones of inhibition resulting from 7.5 µg/mL, when compared with those resulting from the lower NS concentrations, were statistically similar to those at 10.0 µg/mL NS. Differences in zones of inhibition between this 7.5 µg/mL NS concentration and the 1.0 µg/mL were significant (p-value: 0.0012).
MRSA 1 was the isolate that was most inhibited by the 5.0 µg/mL NS dilution. As with the higher NS concentrations, differences in mean zones of inhibition were significant when compared with those of the 1.0 and 0.1 µg/mL NS, with p-values of 0.045 and 0.0002, respectively. For the 2.5 µg/mL NS concentration, statistical differences in inhibition zones were significant when compared to the lower NS dilutions (Figure 2).

3.2. Time–Kill Kinetics

Results on the effect of NS alone, and NS in combination with oxacillin (OXA), augmentin (AUG), and/or cefuroxime (CEF) are shown in Figure 3A‒F. There were variations in antimicrobial effects based on strains of MRSA, as well as the type of antibiotic tested. A rapid rate of killing was seen more often with combinations of NS and antibiotics than with NS alone.
In the combination of AUG with 7.5 µg/mL NS, the killing rate for MRSA 1 was more rapid than in combinations of NS with CEF and OXA in a time-dependent fashion, as shown in Figure 3A‒C. Additionally, differences in these killing times were statistically significant when compared with the control (7.5 µg/mL NS alone). However, for the MRSA 1 time–kill kinetics, although antibiotic combinations with NS displayed a significantly difference in killing time, the time–kill kinetic curve between AUG and OXA did show a statistically significant difference, indicating that time–kill with AUG was more rapid. The results of the MRSA 5 time–kill assay showed significant differences between the NS and antibiotic combinations and NS alone. The killing times for 0‒24 h were markedly different from those for 48 h. Additionally, AUG displayed more rapid killing with respect to CEF and OXA. For this group of 7.5 µg/mL NS with antibiotic combination total killing was seen within 24 h for MRSA 1 and 48 h for MRSA 4 and 5 (Figure 3A–C).
The time–kill assay of the 5 µg/mL NS and antibiotic combination is shown in Figure 3D–F for the MRSA isolates 1, 4, and 5. The results showed complete killing for MRSA 1 at 48 h with combinations as compared with the effect of NS alone. The killing was rapid and statistically significant, with AUG showing a more rapid effect as compared to the control. In MRSA 4, the killing was not total but again AUG displayed rapid killing kinetics with CEF, with OXA showing similar rates of killing (Figure 3E). Additionally, for MRSA 5, there was no total killing after 48 h. However, AUG displayed more rapid killing compared to CEF and OXA. In addition, the antibiotic combinations’ time–kill kinetics were statistically significant compared to NS alone.

3.3. Synergistic Effect of NS and β-Lactams with FIC Index Analysis

The results presented in Table 2 are those of the FIC index interpretation that defines the time–kill assay synergistically for antibiotics and NS combinations. Combinations of 5.0 µg/mL NS with antibiotics on MRSA 1 displayed synergism. The best effect was with AUG, while the worst was with OXA. Synergism was observed within 4 h on isolates that exhibited extensive resistance to antibiotics. In MRSA 4, a similar pattern was observed, except that synergistic effects were seen for AUG and CEF within 4 h, while with OXA, an additive effect was mostly displayed. For MRSA 5, the combination of NS with CEF had an additive effect compared with AUG and OXA, which displayed synergism within 8 h. Overall, the study with 5 µg/mL combinations clearly indicates a synergistic effect.
The synergistic time–kill assay, as interpreted with the FIC index for a 7.5 µg/mL NS combination with antibiotics, is shown in Table 2. The combination of OXA, AUG, and CEF antibiotics all displayed synergism, with AUG and CEF exhibiting the best synergism up to 12 h. The pattern of synergistic effect on MRSA 4 was different, however. AUG had the best effect, but only for 4 h, which was then followed by additive effects. In MRSA 5, NS OXA combinations only produced additive effects. However, synergism was only observed for 2 h, as indicated in Table 2 for AUG and CEF combination. The overall FIC index ranged from 0.05 to 0.7, indicating synergism and additive effects.

3.4. SEM and TEM Assay on Effect of Combined NS, Antibiotic Treatment

The structural appearance of MRSA treated with concentrations of NS and in combination with antibiotics was analyzed using SEM. Figure 4A shows MRSA 4 clusters displaying well-formed shapes, while bacterial cell surface disruption is seen in 4B after treatment with 5.0 µg/mL NS. In Figure 4C,D, cellular aggregation of bacteria and cell destruction is seen in combined treatments of NS with oxacillin and augmentin. In Figure 4E,F, similar destruction of bacteria cell surface and cellular aggregation were observed in the combined treatment of MRSA 5 with 7.5 µg/mL NS, augmentin, and cefuroxime. Figure 5A–F represent TEM monograph analysis of the different MRSA isolates with NS 5 and 7.5 µg/mL concentrations. Figure 5A shows altered MRSA 5 cell membranes and dead bacterial cells after exposure to 5.0 µg/mL NS. The figure also shows disruption of bacterial cell division. Figure 5B also shows MRSA 4 cell wall damage after exposure to 7.5 µg/mL NS with oxacillin, as well as vacuoles created in the cytoplasm and perhaps the accumulation of NS within the cell. Figure 5C shows dead bacteria cells and a damaged cell wall in MRSA 4 treated with 7.5 µg/mL and augmentin, while Figure 5D displays MRSA 4 isolates treated with a combination of 7.5 µg/mL and cefuroxime. Figure 5E shows the effects of MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin and Figure 5F shows the effect on MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing cell wall destruction (black arrows). These micrographs show that NS disrupts the MRSA bacterial cell wall, thereby causing cell death. In combination with β-lactam antibiotics, these effects were potentiated and can be described as a bactericidal effect.
TEM interpretation of combined treatment of NS and antibiotics is shown in Figure 6A–F. The figure gives TEM monographs of the different MRSA bacterial isolates treated with a combination of 7.5 µg/mL NS concentrations and antibiotics. Figure 6A shows damaged MRSA 4 cell walls, disrupted bacterial replication, and cell death with oxacillin. The figure also shows more cell death due to fewer cells, with similar observations seen with MRSA 5 in Figure 6B. In combination treatments with augmentin on MRSA 1, Figure 6C shows more cell deaths, while Figure 6D also displays cell death and the disruption of cell division in MRSA 5. Additionally, the TEM images in Figure 6E show the effect of treatments with 7.5 µg/mL NS in combination with cefuroxime led to MRSA 1 complete and incomplete cell wall disrupted and bacterial cell death. Figure 6F shows complete destruction by 7.5 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime in MRSA 5. These effects clearly indicate that the combinations were bactericidal.

3.5. Results of GC-MS Analysis

The GC-MS analysis of volatile compounds contained in N. sativa oil used in this study showed that the major components were thymoquinone at 7.85%, p-cymene at 5.18%, trans-anethole at 1.52%, and linalool at 1.12%, as presented in Table 3 and Figure 7.

4. Discussion

The MRSA isolates examined here were extremely drug-resistant and fit into the classification of XDR, as they were resistant to aminoglycosides, β-lactams, fluoroquinolones, macrolides, and tetracycline [39,40,41]. However, this study has shown that Nigella sativa (NS), a naturally derived herbal product, inhibits the growth of these XDR MRSA isolates, thereby confirming earlier findings. This suggests that NS derivatives could serve as possible alternatives in the management of extreme drug-resistant (XDR) MRSA isolates. The inherent antimicrobial potential of NS derivatives had been reported as equally effective as that of clinically available antibiotics [26,32,42]. All these reports demonstrated better inhibition of MRSA isolates by NS as compared to commonly used antibiotics, as also seen in the present study.
In this investigation, the isolates responded differently to various concentrations of NS, as seen in the exhibited zones of inhibition. Additionally, although there were differences among the isolates in zones of inhibition, all NS concentrations, including the lowest concentration of 0.1 µg/mL, were able to hinder bacterial growth, a finding that is similar to earlier reports [32,43]. Differences in zones of inhibition could be attributed to phenotypic differences in the MRSA strains. However, that the lowest concentration of NS exhibited growth inhibition against the isolates in this study points to its effectiveness as a potential antimicrobial.
The study also shows the time–kill kinetics for the MRSA strains used in this study to be more rapid in NS and β-lactam combined therapies than with NS alone. This suggests the possibility of a combined additive effect or potentiation of NS to those of the antibiotics that the MRSA isolates had previously been resistant to. These findings are in agreement with earlier suggestions for the need to develop a synergistic herbal drug product that could be suitable for use in combined therapeutic measures to combat the scourge of bacterial resistance [44,45,46]. Phytotherapy combinations with proven synergistic efficacy would not only have a multi-targeted mechanism of action but could be a main tool in delaying, alleviating, or reducing resistance to existing antimicrobials [32,44]. Additionally, our findings show NS synergistic activity in combination with OXA, AUG, and CEF against XDR MRSA isolates, with the best effect seen in the NS-AUG combination as opposed to NS-OXA and NS-CEF, similar to an earlier report [32]. This reported that, in NS β-lactam synergism, there was a reversal in resistance to augmentin by MRSA, findings that are similar to those of this investigation. An earlier report on the synergistic effects of combining the by-products contained in the plant with conventional antimicrobial drugs found improved effects compared to antimicrobials alone [47]. This might explain why all NS β-lactam combinations were more effective than NS or the antibiotic alone. On the other hand, that the combination of 0.5 mg/mL NS and β-lactam showed varying results (Figure 3D‒F), with complete killing seen with MRSA 1, suggests that differences in bacterial strains could be a contributory factor, as had been reported previously [25]. However, that there was better killing against the same MRSA 4 and 5 isolates (Figure 3E,F) in the 7.5 µg/mL NS and antibiotic combinations could point to a dose-dependent NS concentration, a view expressed earlier [32]. Molecular insight was gained by examining the probable mechanism of action of NS alone and with β-lactam antibiotic combinations using SEM and TEM techniques. A SEM micrograph analysis showed bacterial cell aggregation without the usual well-defined clustering of S. aureus. This finding is consistent with previous studies that reported the effect of antibiotics on bacterial cells [48,49]. NS alone disrupted the bacterial cell surface and therefore caused destruction, which was evident in the bacterial growth inhibition. However, in the combinations of NS with OXA and AUG, where there was marked cellular aggregation/cell destruction, we can point to the possible synergistic/additive effects of NS, as shown in the FIC results in Table 2 and Table 3, all of which created significant changes in the molecular ultrastructure that Gram-positive bacteria such as MRSA use for survival. It could also mean that binding of β-lactam antibiotics to penicillin binding protein (PBP) sites was significantly enhanced. Note that the isolates used in this study exhibited marked antimicrobial resistance. The TEM micrograph analysis also confirmed this view. It showed cell death and cell surface disruption, similar to the ultrastructural changes in the MRSA isolates from a previous study with NS alone [32]. The molecular structural changes seen in the TEM micrographs could also be due to interference in the transportation or the synthesis of PBP by NS. Such cell wall destruction, either by NS or in combination with β-lactam antibiotics, would be expected to remove the bacterial protective barriers, thus leading to cell lysis, as shown by the TEM micrograph results.
Generally, the mode of action of augmentin as a β-lactam is that it leads to the inhibition of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan by binding and inhibiting PBPs [50]. It is documented that antimicrobial resistance results from the activation of the Mec A gene and its variants, which leads to the formation of penicillin-binding protein 2A (PBP2a), which binds to β-lactams, thus creating resistance [50]. However, we noted that alkaloid plant components, alone or when combined with conventional antibiotics, could have an effect on bacterial acquired resistance, which could explain the NS and antibiotic combined effects seen in this investigation [3].
N. sativa oil is rich in diverse volatile compounds involved in various biological activities [51]. The GC-MS results confirmed that N. sativa essential oil is a good source of bioactive components such as p-cymene, linalool, thymoquinone, transanethole, and m-thymol, which have been evaluated by various reports and are considered to possess good antimicrobial activity [51,52,53,54]. Earlier reports documented synergistic effects of the extracts of black cumin with streptomycin and gentamicin against antibiotic sensitive S. aureus and other bacterial isolates [55,56]. Thymoquinone was indicated to exert synergism with the antibiotics against S. aureus [56]. Thus, thymoquinone an abundant component of N. sativa is reported to be the bioactive compound with multiple pharmacological actions including being a strong antimicrobial [55,57]. Additionally, as other reports show synergistic effects when thymoquinone is combined with synthetic and natural compound, the present study further confirms that the contents of N. sativa essential oil are potent at inhibiting bacterial activity [54,58].

5. Conclusions

Our findings indicate that N. sativa had a bactericidal effect against XDR methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, even at low concentration. NS synergistically improved the efficacy of β-lactam antibiotics to which, ab initio, they had been resistant. The study also showed, by SEM and TEM molecular analysis, that NS used bacterial cell wall disruption as a possible mechanism of action. This appeared to have improved the binding of β-lactam antibiotics to PBP, as evident in the destruction of the MRSA cell wall and lysis shown in TEM micrographs. However, further studies will be needed to evaluate in detail the nature of this binding and to what type of membrane protein in rapidly emerging resistant bacterial strains.

Author Contributions

Conceptualization, methodology, formal analysis, and writing—original draft preparation, L.I.B.-E. and P.M.E.; software, P.M.E. and H.I.M.I.; validation, investigation, resources, data curation, and writing—review and editing, L.I.B.-E., P.M.E., and H.I.M.I.; funding acquisition, L.I.B.-E. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Funding

The Deanship of Scientific Research, King Faisal University (grant No. 186388) funded the research under Nasher Track.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Not required as isolates were routine diagnostic specimen.

Informed Consent Statement

Not applicable.

Data Availability Statement

Data is contained within the article and correspondence author can be contacted for more information.

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the Deanship of Scientific Research, King Faisal University for the financial support. The authors would like to thank Maged El-Sayed Mohamed, Hani Al-Rasasi, Hajer Salman Al-Dehailan, Fatimah Mohammed Alquaimy, and Fatimah Ahmad AlJaafari for their technical assistance.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest with respect to the research, authorship nor in the article publication.

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Figure 1. Antimicrobial resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Augmentin (AUG), benzyl penicillin (BENZ), oxacillin (OXA), cefuroxime (CEF), cefuroxime/axetil (CEF/AXE), clindamycin (CLD), amikacin (AK), imipenem (IMP), ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin (LEVO), erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), tigecycline (TG), tetracycline (TET), rifampicin (RIF), and gentamicin (GEN).
Figure 1. Antimicrobial resistance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Augmentin (AUG), benzyl penicillin (BENZ), oxacillin (OXA), cefuroxime (CEF), cefuroxime/axetil (CEF/AXE), clindamycin (CLD), amikacin (AK), imipenem (IMP), ciprofloxacin (CIP), levofloxacin (LEVO), erythromycin (ERY), sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim (SXT), tigecycline (TG), tetracycline (TET), rifampicin (RIF), and gentamicin (GEN).
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Figure 2. Showing the zones of mean ± SD inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MRSA 1–6 bacterial isolates against Nigella sativa (NS) dilutions. Comparison of 10 µg/mL and other concentrations. * p-value: 0.034; ** p-value: 0.0001.
Figure 2. Showing the zones of mean ± SD inhibition of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), MRSA 1–6 bacterial isolates against Nigella sativa (NS) dilutions. Comparison of 10 µg/mL and other concentrations. * p-value: 0.034; ** p-value: 0.0001.
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Figure 3. Time–kill assay curves of 7.5 µg/mL concentration of Nigella sativa (NS) alone and in combination with antibiotics against (A) MRSA 1, (B) MRSA 4, and (C) MRSA 5 bacterial isolates. (A) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0039 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0016 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0142 for NS + CEF; (B) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0113 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0061 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0053 for NS + CEF; (C) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0179 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0336 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0180 for NS + CEF. Time–kill assay curves of 5.0 µg/mL concentration of Nigella sativa (NS) alone and in combination with antibiotics against (D) MRSA 1, (E) MRSA 4, and (F) MRSA 5 bacteria isolates. (D) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0408 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0200 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0494 for NS + CEF; (b) * Represents significant values at p < 0.0331 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0083 for NS + AUG, and p < 0.0254 for NS + CEF; (F) * Represents significant values at p < 0.0161 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0019 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0022 for NS + CEF.
Figure 3. Time–kill assay curves of 7.5 µg/mL concentration of Nigella sativa (NS) alone and in combination with antibiotics against (A) MRSA 1, (B) MRSA 4, and (C) MRSA 5 bacterial isolates. (A) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0039 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0016 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0142 for NS + CEF; (B) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0113 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0061 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0053 for NS + CEF; (C) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0179 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0336 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0180 for NS + CEF. Time–kill assay curves of 5.0 µg/mL concentration of Nigella sativa (NS) alone and in combination with antibiotics against (D) MRSA 1, (E) MRSA 4, and (F) MRSA 5 bacteria isolates. (D) *** Represents significant values at p < 0.0408 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0200 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0494 for NS + CEF; (b) * Represents significant values at p < 0.0331 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0083 for NS + AUG, and p < 0.0254 for NS + CEF; (F) * Represents significant values at p < 0.0161 for NS + OXA, p < 0.0019 for NS + AUG and p < 0.0022 for NS + CEF.
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Figure 4. SEM micrographs of untreated, NS, and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics treated methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates. (A) Control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA 4) without any treatment, showing clusters of bacteria. (B) MRSA 4 treatment with 5.0 µg/mL Nigella sativa (NS), displaying surface alterations and destruction. (C) SEM of MRSA 4 treated with a combination of 5.0 µg/mL NS and oxacillin. (D) Augmentin combination with the same concentration of NS, showing surface destruction of S. aureus. (E) MRSA 5 at 2700× magnification showing 7.5 µg/mL NS treatment in combination with augmentin. (F) Combination treatment with cefuroxime and 7.5 µg/mL NS at 1800× showing MRSA 5 bacteria cluster surface destruction.
Figure 4. SEM micrographs of untreated, NS, and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics treated methicillin-resistant S. aureus isolates. (A) Control methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA 4) without any treatment, showing clusters of bacteria. (B) MRSA 4 treatment with 5.0 µg/mL Nigella sativa (NS), displaying surface alterations and destruction. (C) SEM of MRSA 4 treated with a combination of 5.0 µg/mL NS and oxacillin. (D) Augmentin combination with the same concentration of NS, showing surface destruction of S. aureus. (E) MRSA 5 at 2700× magnification showing 7.5 µg/mL NS treatment in combination with augmentin. (F) Combination treatment with cefuroxime and 7.5 µg/mL NS at 1800× showing MRSA 5 bacteria cluster surface destruction.
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Figure 5. TEM micrographs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treated with NS and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics. (A) 5.0 µg/mL of NS at 25,000× showing MRSA 5 cell wall destruction (black arrow). (B) 5.0 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin showing MRSA 4 cell death at 50,000× magnification (blue arrow). (C) MRSA 5 treated with NS 5.0 µg/mL plus augmentin at 25,000× showing incomplete cell wall destruction (black arrow) and (D) MRSA 4 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime showing cell death (blue arrow) at 40,000× magnifications. (E) MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin and (F) MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing cell wall destruction (black arrows) at a magnification of 30,000×.
Figure 5. TEM micrographs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treated with NS and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics. (A) 5.0 µg/mL of NS at 25,000× showing MRSA 5 cell wall destruction (black arrow). (B) 5.0 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin showing MRSA 4 cell death at 50,000× magnification (blue arrow). (C) MRSA 5 treated with NS 5.0 µg/mL plus augmentin at 25,000× showing incomplete cell wall destruction (black arrow) and (D) MRSA 4 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime showing cell death (blue arrow) at 40,000× magnifications. (E) MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin and (F) MRSA 1 treated with 5.0 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing cell wall destruction (black arrows) at a magnification of 30,000×.
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Figure 6. TEM micrographs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treated with NS and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics. (A) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin at a magnification of 40,000×, showing incomplete destruction of MRSA 4 cell wall (black arrow) and (B) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin, showing incomplete of destruction of MRSA 5 cell wall (blue arrow). (C) MRSA 1 treated with 7.5 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing dead bacterial cells at a magnification of 30,000× (blue arrow). (D) MRSA 5 treated with 7.5 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing complete cell wall destruction. (E) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime, showing incomplete (black arrow) and complete (blue arrow) destruction of MRSA 1 cell wall at a magnification of 80,000×. (F) Complete destruction by 7.5 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime of MRSA 5 cell wall at a magnification of 40,000× (blue arrow).
Figure 6. TEM micrographs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) treated with NS and NS plus β-lactam antibiotics. (A) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin at a magnification of 40,000×, showing incomplete destruction of MRSA 4 cell wall (black arrow) and (B) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus oxacillin, showing incomplete of destruction of MRSA 5 cell wall (blue arrow). (C) MRSA 1 treated with 7.5 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing dead bacterial cells at a magnification of 30,000× (blue arrow). (D) MRSA 5 treated with 7.5 µg/mL NS plus augmentin, showing complete cell wall destruction. (E) 7.5 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime, showing incomplete (black arrow) and complete (blue arrow) destruction of MRSA 1 cell wall at a magnification of 80,000×. (F) Complete destruction by 7.5 µg/mL NS plus cefuroxime of MRSA 5 cell wall at a magnification of 40,000× (blue arrow).
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Figure 7. Chromatogram of N. Sativa oil characterized by GC-MS analysis.
Figure 7. Chromatogram of N. Sativa oil characterized by GC-MS analysis.
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Table
Table 1. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the MRSA isolates against tested antibiotics.
Table 1. Minimum inhibitory concentration of the MRSA isolates against tested antibiotics.
AntibioticMRSA 1MRSA 2MRSA 3MRSA 4MRSA 5MRSA 6
Augmentin≤2≤2≤2≤2≤2≤2
Benzyl penicillin≤0.25≤0.25≤0.25≤0.25≤0.25≤0.25
Oxacillin≥4≥8≥8≥4≥8≥4
Cefuroxime≤1828≤1≤1
Cefuroxime/Axetil8≤1≥648≥642
Clindamycin≤0.52≤0.5≥4≥4≥4
Amikacin≥168≤4≥16≥16≥16
Imipenem≤1≤1≤1≤1≤1≤1
Ciprofloxacin≥8≥8≥8≥8≥8≥8
Levofloxacin≥8≥84≥4≥8≥8
Erythromycin≤0.25≥8≥8≥81≥8
Sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim8161681616
Tigecycline≤0.12≤0.12≤0.12≤0.12≤0.12256
Tetracycline≥32≥32≥32≥32≥32≥320
Rifampicin≤1≤0.5≥42≥4≥4
Gentamicin≥16≤4≤4≤4≤48
Table
Table 2. Fractional inhibitory concentration index synergy interpretation of different MRSA isolates measured at time intervals for combinations of 5.0 µg/mL N. sativa and antibiotics.
Table 2. Fractional inhibitory concentration index synergy interpretation of different MRSA isolates measured at time intervals for combinations of 5.0 µg/mL N. sativa and antibiotics.
Bacterial Isolate/MRSA TypeAntibiotic CombinationFractional Inhibitory Concentration IndexOutcome
Time (h)
24812
MRSA 1NS + OXA0.40.50.70.7Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + AUG0.30.50.60.5Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + CEF0.40.50.70.6Synergism/Additive Effect
MRSA 4
NS + OXA0.50.60.70.8Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + AUG0.50.50.60.8Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + CEF0.50.50.70.7Synergism/Additive Effect
MRSA 5
NS + OXA0.50.50.50.8Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + AUG0.50.50.50.7Synergism/Additive Effect
NS + CEF0.70.60.60.7Additive Effect
NS = Nigella sativa, OXA = oxacillin; AUG = augmentin; CEF = cefuroxime. The interaction was defined as synergistic if the FIC index was less than or equal to 0.5, additive if the FIC index was greater than 0.5 and less than or equal to 1.0, indifferent if the FIC index was greater than 1.0 and less than or equal to 2.0, and antagonistic if the FIC index was greater than 2.0.
Table
Table 3. GC-MS data.
Table 3. GC-MS data.
Com Pound NameRtArea (%)
p-Cymene9.8415.18
Linalool13.4981.12
Thymoquinone18.0187.85
trans-Anethole19.0231.52
m-Thymol19.8720.71
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Badger-Emeka, L.I.; Emeka, P.M.; Ibrahim, H.I.M. A Molecular Insight into the Synergistic Mechanism of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with β-Lactam Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Appl. Sci. 2021, 11, 3206. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073206

AMA Style

Badger-Emeka LI, Emeka PM, Ibrahim HIM. A Molecular Insight into the Synergistic Mechanism of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with β-Lactam Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Applied Sciences. 2021; 11(7):3206. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073206

Chicago/Turabian Style

Badger-Emeka, Lorina I., Promise Madu Emeka, and Hairul Islam M. Ibrahim. 2021. "A Molecular Insight into the Synergistic Mechanism of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with β-Lactam Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus" Applied Sciences 11, no. 7: 3206. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073206

APA Style

Badger-Emeka, L. I., Emeka, P. M., & Ibrahim, H. I. M. (2021). A Molecular Insight into the Synergistic Mechanism of Nigella sativa (Black Cumin) with β-Lactam Antibiotics against Clinical Isolates of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Applied Sciences, 11(7), 3206. https://doi.org/10.3390/app11073206

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