Biological activity of Cucurbita maxima and Momordica charantia seed extracts against the biofilm-associated protein of Staphylococcus aureus: An in vitro and in silico studies

Abstract

Nowadays, it is necessary to find new and effective antimicrobial drugs because of rising drug-resistance microbes. Through in vitro analysis, two selected plants' seed (Cucurbita maxima, and Momordica charantia) extracts were evaluated to determine their antibacterial activity, and an in silico screening was used to identify potential compounds of the two selected plants' seed extracts that could be used in developing new drugs against Staphylococcus aureus. Despite an inhibitory zone being seen against all bacteria in the antibacterial activity test, the highest inhibition zone of the seed extracts from the selected plants was identified against Staphylococcus aureus at the dose of 200 μg/disc. Particular plant seed extracts also demonstrated significant antioxidant content and low risk of negative impacts. The two selected plant seed extracts exhibited remarkable biofilm inhibition ability. The binding interaction was investigated using molecular docking to identify bioactive components against Staphylococcal BAP protein (7C7U) that are responsible for biofilm formation. The binding energies of the D1 (CID- 620905), D2 (CID- 66760004), and D3 (CID- 5379220) compound from Cucurbita maxima had binding energy of −8.6 kcal/mol, −7.5 kcal/mol, and −7.1 kcal/mol, respectively. The D1 (CID- 123409), D2 (CID- 5280435), and D3 (CID- 541568) compound from Momordica charantia had an energy of −6.1 kcal/mol, −6.0 kcal/mol, and −5.9 kcal/mol, respectively. Thus, two selected plants’ seed extracts could be utilized to combat antibiotic-resistant bacteria as a natural source of drugs.

Keywords

• Cucurbita maxima
• Momordica charantia, antimicrobial activity
• Antioxidant activity
• Biofilm inhibition
• Molecular docking