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Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application

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A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Natural Products Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (28 February 2023) | Viewed by 32127

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Dr. Maria-Loredana Soran

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National Institute for Research and Development of Isotopic and Molecular Technologies, 67-103 Donat Street, 400293 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
Interests: nanomaterials; water treatment; extraction; plant stress; bioactive compounds
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Dear Colleagues,

Biologically active compounds obtained from different plants present various properties, such as antibacterial and antioxidant activity, colour, flavour etc. Due to their properties, the plant extracts can be used in the food industry as replacements for synthetic food additives. Thus, natural extracts of plant origin are good alternatives for preservatives, dyes, and synthetic aromas, with the added benefit of enriching the nutritional value of the food. Additionally, due to their properties, the plant extracts can be used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries.

In this Special Issue, we invite investigators to contribute original research and review articles related to the preparation and characterization of plant extracts, as well as applications of plant extracts based on antibacterial and antioxidant properties. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

New techniques for obtaining plant extracts with a high content of bioactive compounds;
Characterization of plant extracts, including antibacterial properties;
Applications of plant extracts as antibacterial and antioxidants agents.

Dr. Soran Maria Loredana
Guest Editor

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Keywords

plant extracts
preparation
antibacterial
antioxidant

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Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

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20 pages, 1813 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Microencapsulated Basil Extract on Cream Cheese Quality and Stability

by Liliana Popescu, Daniela Cojocari, Ildiko Lung, Irina Kacso, Alexandra Ciorîţă, Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu, Greta Balan, Adela Pintea and Rodica Sturza

Molecules 2023, 28(8), 3305; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28083305 - 7 Apr 2023

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1925

Abstract

The antimicrobial and antioxidant effects of plant extracts are well known, but their use is limited because they affect the physicochemical and sensory characteristics of products. Encapsulation presents an option to limit or prevent these changes. The paper presents the composition of individual polyphenols (HPLC–DAD-ESI-MS) from basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) extracts (BE), and their antioxidant activity and inhibitory effects against strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Bacillus cereus, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella Abony. The BE was encapsulated in sodium alginate (Alg) using the drop technique. The encapsulation efficiency of microencapsulated basil extract (MBE) was 78.59 ± 0.01%. SEM and FTIR analyses demonstrated the morphological aspect of the microcapsules and the existence of weak physical interactions between the components. Sensory, physicochemical and textural properties of MBE-fortified cream cheese were evaluated over a 28-day storage time at 4 °C. In the optimal concentration range of 0.6–0.9% (w/w) MBE, we determined the inhibition of the post-fermentation process and the improvement in the degree of water retention. This led to the improvement of the textural parameters of the cream cheese, contributing to the extension of the shelf life of the product by 7 days. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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19 pages, 3310 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Allelopathic Compounds Identified in Medicago sativa L. Seedling Exudate against Escherichia coli

by Sara Abouzeid, Ulrike Beutling, Engy Elekhnawy and Dirk Selmar

Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2645; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062645 - 14 Mar 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3118

Abstract

In this study, the allelopathic properties of Medicago sativa L. (alfalfa) seedling exudates on the germination of seeds of various species were investigated. The compounds responsible for the allelopathic effects of alfalfa were identified and characterized by employing liquid chromatography ion mobility high-resolution mass spectrometry. Crude exudates inhibited the germination of seeds of all various plant species tested. Overall, nine compounds in alfalfa were identified and quantified. The most predominant compounds were a hyperoside representing a flavonoid glucoside, the non-proteinogenic amino acid canavanine, and two dipeptides, identified as H-Glu-Tyr-OH and H-Phe-Glu-OH. The latter corresponds to the first finding that dipeptides are exuded from alfalfa seedlings. In addition, the antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of alfalfa exudate and its identified compounds were elucidated. Both hyperoside and canavanine revealed the best antibacterial activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values that ranged from 8 to 32 and 32 to 256 µg/mL, respectively. Regarding the antibiofilm action, hyperoside and canavanine caused a decline in the percentage of E. coli isolates that possessed a strong and moderate biofilm-forming potential from 68.42% to 21.05% and 31.58%, respectively. Studies on their inhibiting effects exhibit that these major substances are predominantly responsible for the allelopathic and antimicrobial effects of the crude exudates. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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19 pages, 33238 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Functionalized Sulfur-Containing Heterocyclic Analogs Induce Sub-G1 Arrest and Apoptotic Cell Death of Laryngeal Carcinoma In Vitro

by B. Haridevamuthu, Tamilvelan Manjunathan, Carlton Ranjith Wilson Alphonse, Rajendran Saravana Kumar, Sundaram Thanigaivel, Somasundaram Chandra Kishore, Vickram Sundaram, Pushparathinam Gopinath, Jesu Arockiaraj and Stefano Bellucci

Molecules 2023, 28(4), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28041856 - 15 Feb 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2746

Abstract

In this study, we speculate that the hydroxyl-containing benzo[b]thiophene analogs, 1-(3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) ethanone (BP) and 1-(3-hydroxybenzo[b]thiophen-2-yl) propan-1-one hydrate (EP), might possess antiproliferative activity against cancer cells. Hydroxyl-containing BP and EP show selectivity towards laryngeal cancer cells (HEp2), with IC₅₀ values of 27.02 ± 1.23 and 35.26 ± 2.15 µM, respectively. The hydroxyl group present in the third position is responsible for the anticancer activity and is completely abrogated when the hydroxyl group is masked. BP and EP enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity and reduce the ROS production, which are correlated with the antiproliferative effect in HEp-2 cells. An increase in the BAX/BCL-2 ratio occurs during the BP and EP treatment and activates the caspase cascade, resulting in apoptosis stimulation. It also arrests the cells in the Sub-G1 phase, indicating the induction of apoptosis. The molecular docking and simulation studies predicted a strong interaction between BP and the CYP1A2 protein, which could aid in combinational therapy by enhancing the bioavailability of the drugs. BP and EP possess an antioxidant property with low antiproliferative effects (~5.18 µg/mL and ~7.8 µg/mL) as a standalone drug, therefore, they can be combined with other drugs for effective chemotherapy that might trigger the effect of pro-oxidant drug on healthy cells. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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11 pages, 800 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimization of Lipid Extraction from Spirulina spp. by Ultrasound Application and Mechanical Stirring Using the Taguchi Method of Experimental Design

by Emilia Neag, Zamfira Stupar, Cerasel Varaticeanu, Marin Senila and Cecilia Roman

Molecules 2022, 27(20), 6794; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27206794 - 11 Oct 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1971

Abstract

The present study uses the Taguchi method of experimental design to optimize lipid extraction from Spirulina spp. by ultrasound application and mechanical stirring. A Taguchi L₉ orthogonal array was used to optimize various parameters, such as methanol: chloroform (M:C) ratio, biomass: solvent ratio, and extraction time for lipid extraction. The results were analyzed using the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The biomass: solvent ratio significantly influenced lipid content (p < 0.05) with 92.1% and 92.3% contributions to the lipid and S/N ratio data, respectively. The extraction time presented a contribution value of 5.0%, while the M:C ratio presented the most negligible contribution of 0.4% for S/N data. The optimum extraction conditions were: M:C ratio of 1:1, biomass: solvent ratio of 1:60, and extraction time of 30 min. The predominant fatty acids were palmitic acid (44.5%), linoleic acid (14.9%), and gamma-linolenic acid (13.4%). The confirmation experiments indicated a lipid content of 8.7%, within a 95% confidence interval, proving the Taguchi method’s effectiveness in optimizing the process parameters for lipid extraction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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26 pages, 2003 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biologically Active Preparations from the Leaves of Wild Plant Species of the Genus Rubus

by Łukasz Kucharski, Krystyna Cybulska, Edyta Kucharska, Anna Nowak, Robert Pełech and Adam Klimowicz

Molecules 2022, 27(17), 5486; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27175486 - 26 Aug 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1963

Abstract

The plants of the genus Rubus (R.) are applied as antiseptic agents in the treatment of skin diseases. Despite the great interest in plants of this genus, there are few reports on the antioxidant and biological activities of preparations obtained from the leaves of these plants. Therefore, we decided to evaluate the antioxidant activity of preparations from leaves of wild plant species of the genus Rubus using the frequently applied DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP methods, as well as to determine the total polyphenol content using the Folin–Ciocalteau method and perform qualitative evaluation by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The bactericidal and fungicidal activities of the obtained preparations were evaluated by applying laboratory tests: using the disc and the well methods based on the standards EN 13697:2019, EN 13697:2015, and EN 1500:2013. Microbiological tests of the plant preparations against bacteria, fungi, and yeasts isolated from the environment and against reference strains were performed. Moreover, antimicrobial testing of antibiotics against the tested strains was performed for comparison. The n-octanol/water partition coefficient of the obtained preparations was determined by the shake-flask method to determine their lipophilicity. According to the results, a high content of polyphenols and other antioxidant and biologically active compounds can be thought of as the parameter responsible for the effective activity of plant preparations obtained from wild plant species of the genus Rubus. The methods for determining bactericidal and fungicidal activity clearly demonstrates that preparations with reduced ethanol content exhibit bactericidal and fungicidal activity on surfaces. Testing of hand disinfection by means of rubbing with the preparations confirmed their antimicrobial activity against Escherichia coli K12 NCTC 10538. The obtained results show that the tested preparations exhibit on average two times lower activity against the reference bacterial strains than comparable antibiotics. The preparations obtained from the leaves of R. idaeus L. and R. fruticosus L. could complement classical antibiotics. While environmental bacteria showed a similar response to the preparations and antibiotics, their sensitivity was about one-third less than that of the reference strains. Our studies have shown that the obtained preparations are highly hydrophilic (logP < 0). Thus, these preparations can only be used in lipid bilayers in the aqueous core of liposomes, not in the lipid envelope. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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13 pages, 1756 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Inhibition of Bacterial Adhesion and Biofilm Formation by Seed-Derived Ethanol Extracts from Persea americana Mill

by Silvia del Carmen Molina Bertrán, Lianet Monzote, Davie Cappoen, Julio Cesar Escalona Arranz, Mario Juan Gordillo Pérez, Annarli O. Rodríguez-Ferreiro, Idelsy Chill Nuñez, Claudina Pérez Novo, Daniel Méndez, Paul Cos and Gabriel Llauradó Maury

Molecules 2022, 27(15), 5009; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27155009 - 6 Aug 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2839

Abstract

The increase in antibiotic resistance demands innovative strategies to combat microorganisms. The current study evaluated the antibacterial and antivirulence effects of ethanol extracts from Persea americana seeds obtained by the Soxhlet (SE) and maceration (MaE) methods. The UHPLC-DAD-QTOF analysis showed mainly the presence of polyphenols and neolignan. Ethanol extracts were not cytotoxic to mammalian cells (CC₅₀ > 500 µg/mL) and displayed a moderate antibacterial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (IC₅₀ = 87 and 187 µg/mL) and Staphylococcus aureus (IC₅₀ = 144 and 159 µg/mL). Interestingly, no antibacterial activity was found against Escherichia coli. SE and MaE extracts were also able to significantly reduce the bacterial adhesion to A549 lung epithelial cells. Additionally, both extracts inhibited the biofilm growth at 24 h and facilitated the release of internal cell components in P. aeruginosa, which might be associated with cell membrane destabilization. Real-time PCR and agarose electrophoresis gel analysis indicated that avocado seed ethanol extracts (64 µg/mL) downregulated virulence-related factors such as mexT and lasA genes. Our results support the potential of bioproducts from P. americana seeds as anti-adhesive and anti-biofilm agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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20 pages, 5364 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effect of Copper Salts on Bioactive Compounds and Ultrastructure of Wheat Plants

by Otilia Culicov, Adina Stegarescu, Maria-Loredana Soran, Ildiko Lung, Ocsana Opriș, Alexandra Ciorîță and Pavel Nekhoroshkov

Molecules 2022, 27(15), 4835; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27154835 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1699

Abstract

Abiotic stress agents, among them metal stress, can cause oxidative damage to plant cells. In defense, plants can increase the production of secondary metabolites in order to mitigate the harmful effects caused by them. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the effect of two types of copper salts (CuSO₄ and Cu(NO₃)₂), added in two different amounts in soil (150 mg/kg, respectively 300 mg/kg), on assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, antioxidant activity and the elemental composition of wheat. The obtained results were compared with those from control plants grown in the same conditions but without copper salts. The amount of assimilating pigments, total polyphenols, and antioxidant activity respectively increases or decreases in the plants treated with copper salts compared to the control depending on the stage of development of the plant. No significant damage induced in the leaves of the wheat plants treated with the selected salts was observed following the TEM analysis. In six-week-old plants it was observed by EDX analysis that the salts are transformed into nanoparticles. The bioactive compounds, elemental composition and their interaction is influenced by concentration of metal’s salt, type of salt and exposure period. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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18 pages, 1140 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chemometric Optimization of Biologically Active Compounds Extraction from Grape Marc: Composition and Antimicrobial Activity

by Aliona Ghendov-Mosanu, Daniela Cojocari, Greta Balan, Antoanela Patras, Ildiko Lung, Maria-Loredana Soran, Ocsana Opriş, Elena Cristea and Rodica Sturza

Molecules 2022, 27(5), 1610; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27051610 - 28 Feb 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 3444

Abstract

The article focuses on the optimization of the extraction process of biologically active compounds (BAC) from grape marc—a by-product of the wine industry. The influence of temperature, specifically 30 °C, 45 °C and 65 °C, and ethanol concentration in solutions, specifically 0–96% (v/v) on the extraction yield of polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and anthocyanins, were investigated. The composition of individual polyphenols, anthocyanins and organic acids, antioxidant activity (DPPH and ABTS) and CIELab chromatic characteristics of the grape marc extracts (GME), were characterized. The microbiostatic and microbicidal effects in direct contact of GME with pathogenic microorganisms, Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, were determined in vitro. The influence of extraction parameters on the total polyphenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), tannin content (TC), total anthocyanin content (TAC) and their interdependencies were studied using information analysis. A mathematical model was developed on cubic spline functions. The analysis of individual compounds showed the presence of a wide range of flavonoids (procyanidin B2, procyanidin B1, hyperoside and quercetin), flavones (catechin), hydroxybenzoic acid derivatives (gallic, protocatechuic, p-hydroxybenzoic acids, m-hydroxybenzoic acid, syringic acid), hydroxycinic acid derivatives and ferulic acid methyl ester. The malvidol-3-glucoside was the main anthocyanin identified in the extract. A high amount of tartaric acid was also found. GME showed significant antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive bacteria and lower activity against Gram-negative bacteria. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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Review

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31 pages, 1575 KiB

Open AccessReview

Biosynthesis of Nanoparticles Using Plant Extracts and Essential Oils

by Sérgio Antunes Filho, Mayara Santana dos Santos, Otávio Augusto L. dos Santos, Bianca Pizzorno Backx, Maria-Loredana Soran, Ocsana Opriş, Ildiko Lung, Adina Stegarescu and Mohamed Bououdina

Molecules 2023, 28(7), 3060; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28073060 - 29 Mar 2023

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 8058

Abstract

Plant extracts and essential oils have a wide variety of molecules with potential application in different fields such as medicine, the food industry, and cosmetics. Furthermore, these plant derivatives are widely interested in human and animal health, including potent antitumor, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and bactericidal activity. Given this diversity, different methodologies were needed to optimize the extraction, purification, and characterization of each class of biomolecules. In addition, these plant products can still be used in the synthesis of nanomaterials to reduce the undesirable effects of conventional synthesis routes based on hazardous/toxic chemical reagents and associate the properties of nanomaterials with those present in extracts and essential oils. Vegetable oils and extracts are chemically complex, and although they are already used in the synthesis of nanomaterials, limited studies have examined which molecules are effectively acting in the synthesis and stabilization of these nanostructures. Similarly, few studies have investigated whether the molecules coating the nanomaterials derived from these extracts and essential oils would bring benefits or somehow reduce their potential activity. This synergistic effect presents a promising field to be further explored. Thus, in this review article, we conducted a comprehensive review addressing the main groups of molecules present in plant extracts and essential oils, their extraction capacity, and available methodologies for their characterization. Moreover, we highlighted the potential of these plant products in the synthesis of different metallic nanomaterials and their antimicrobial capacity. Furthermore, we correlated the extract’s role in antimicrobial activity, considering the potential synergy between molecules from the plant product and the different metallic forms associated with nanomaterials. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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23 pages, 2036 KiB

Open AccessReview

Artemisia vestita: A Folk Medicine with Hidden Herbal Fortune

by Shivani Dogra, Joginder Singh, Bhupendra Koul and Dhananjay Yadav

Molecules 2023, 28(6), 2788; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28062788 - 20 Mar 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3239

Abstract

Traditional medicines are nature’s gift and our native heritage, which play a vital role in maintaining a disease-free life. Artemisia vestita Wall. ex Besser (family: Asteraceae), popularly known as “Kubsha” or “Russian wormwood”, is a highly enriched folklore medicine with wound- healing, antiphlogistic, antifebrile, antifeedant, anti-helminthic, antimicrobial, antiviral, antitumor, and antiproliferative potential attributed to the presence of various volatile and non-volatile secondary metabolites. A systematic and extensive review of the literature on A. vestita was carried out via the Web of Science, PubMed, INMEDPLAN, EMBASE, Google Scholar, and NCBI, as well as from several websites. The highly relevant literature contained in 109 references was selected for further inclusion in this review. A total of 202 bioactive compounds belonging to different chemical classes such as terpenoids, coumarins, flavonoids, alkaloids, acetylenes, tannins, carotenoids, and sterols have been reported in A. vestita, which are responsible for different pharmacological activities. The chemical structures obtained from the PubChem and Chem Spider databases were redrawn using the software Chem Draw^® version 8.0. This review paper summarizes the distribution, botanical description, phytochemistry, pharmacological activities, and conservation of A. vestita, which will assist scientists for further investigation. Extensive studies on the active constituents, pharmaceutical standardization, mode of action, and sustainable conservation of A. vestita are needed to further explore its wound-healing and allied medicinal properties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antibacterial Properties of Plant Extracts: Preparation and Application)

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