Volume 8 Issue 2
Diversity of Nonribosomal Peptide Synthetases Involved in the Biosynthesis of Lipopeptide Biosurfactants
Niran Roongsawang,Kenji Washio andMasaaki Morikawa
1Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Medicine of Sobral, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
2Centre of the Exact Sciences and Technology, Acaraú Valley State University, 62040-370, Sobral, CE, Brazil
3Northeast Biotechnology Network (RENORBIO), State University of Ceará, 60740-000, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
Abstract
Croton nepetaefolius is a native plant from northeastern Brazil that belongs to the Euphorbiaceae family. The biological action of this plant has been extensively explored, being the secondary metabolites responsible for its properties alkaloids, diterpenes, and triterpenes. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of casbane diterpene (CD), isolated from the ethanolic extract of C. nepetaefolius, to inhibit microbial growth and biofilm formation of several clinical relevant species (bacteria and yeasts). It was found that CD possessed biocidal and biostatic activity against the majority of the species screened, with minimal active concentrations ranging between 125 and 500 µg/mL. In addition, it was observed that biofilm formation was inhibited even when the planktonic growth was not significantly affected. In conclusion, CD showed potential to be a natural tool for the treatment of diseases caused by different infectious microorganisms.
Keywords:
casbane diterpene; biofilm-associated infections control; natural antimicrobials; bacteria and yeast