Inhibition of Bacterial Efflux Pumps by Crude Extracts and Essential Oil from <i>Myristica fragrans</i> Houtt. (Nutmeg) Seeds against Methicillin-Resistant <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>
Thidar Oo,
Bhanubong Saiboonjan,
Sukanya Srijampa,
Arpasiri Srisrattakarn,
Khaetthareeya Sutthanut,
Ratree Tavichakorntrakool,
Aroonwadee Chanawong,
Aroonlug Lulitanond,
Patcharaporn Tippayawat
Affiliations
Thidar Oo
Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Bhanubong Saiboonjan
Center for Innovation and Standard for Medical Technology and Physical Therapy, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Sukanya Srijampa
Biosensor Research Group for Non-Communicable Disease and Infectious Disease, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Arpasiri Srisrattakarn
Biosensor Research Group for Non-Communicable Disease and Infectious Disease, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Aroonwadee Chanawong
Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Aroonlug Lulitanond
Centre for Research and Development of Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, Faculty of Associated Medical Sciences, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Patcharaporn Tippayawat
Faculty of Medicine, Research Institute for Human High Performance and Health Promotion, Khon Kaen University, Khon Kaen 40002, Thailand
Myristicafragrans Houtt. (Nutmeg) is a widely known folk medicine across several parts of Asia, particularly used in antimicrobial treatment. Bacterial resistance involves the expression of efflux pump systems (chromosomal norA and mepA) in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Crude extract (CE) and essential oil (EO) obtained from nutmeg were applied as efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs), thereby enhancing the antimicrobial activity of the drugs they were used in. The major substances in CE and EO, which function as EPIs, in a descending order of % peak area include elemicin, myristicin, methoxyeugenol, myristicin, and asarone. Here, we investigated whether the low amount of CE and EO used as EPIs was sufficient to sensitize MRSA killing using the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, which acts as an efflux system. Interestingly, synergy between ciprofloxacin and CE or EO revealed the most significant viability of MRSA, depending on norA and mepA, the latter being responsible for EPI function of EO. Therefore, CE and EO obtained from nutmeg can act as EPIs in combination with substances that act as efflux systems, thereby ensuring that the MRSA strain is susceptible to antibiotic treatment.
