IN-VITRO SYNERGISTIC INTERACTIONS OF BAICALEIN IN COMBINATION WITH β ββ-LACTAM ANTIBIOTICS AGAINST METHICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCUS AUREUS

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The pressing issue of the moment affecting public health is antimicrobial resistance. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an emerging pathogen that is proven to be resistant to a range of antibiotics like penicillins, cephalosporins, other β ββ-lactam antibiotics, and carbapenems. Baicalein, a phytochemical of the traditional Chinese herb, Scutellaria baicalensis has an inhibitory effect on different bacteria. The current study aimed to investigate the synergistic effect of baicalein and β ββlactam antibiotics (amoxicillin and ampicillin) against methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of baicalein and β-lactam antibiotics (amoxicillin and ampicillin) against the MRSA were determined through the broth dilution method. The determination of synergism was tested by checkerboard tube dilution and time-kill assay procedure. The combination of baicalein with amoxicillin showed more potent synergy against MRSA strain compared to the combination of baicalein and ampicillin. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices (FICI) of amoxicillin + baicalein varied from 0.19 to 0.50. The fractional inhibitory concentration (FIC) indices of ampicillin + baicalein varied from 0.19 to 0.25. These findings offer significant evidence that the amoxicillin combined with baicalein showed potent synergistic activity against MRSA in vitro and might offer promising therapeutic implications for MRSA infections.

Keywords

• antibiotic
• baicalein
• β-lactam
• mrsa
• synergetic activity