Antibacterial Components and Modes of the Methanol-Phase Extract from <i>Commelina communis</i> Linn

Abstract

Infectious diseases caused by pathogenic bacteria severely threaten human health. Traditional Chinese herbs are potential sources of new or alternative medicine. In this study, we analyzed for the first time antibacterial substances in the methanol-phase extract from a traditional Chinese herb—Commelina communis Linn—which showed an inhibition rate of 58.33% against 24 species of common pathogenic bacteria. The extract was further purified using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (Prep-HPLC), which generated four single fragments (Fragments 1 to 4). The results revealed that Fragment 1 significantly increased bacterial cell surface hydrophobicity and membrane permeability and decreased membrane fluidity, showing disruptive effects on cell integrity of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, such as Bacillus cereus, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Salmonella enterica subsp., compared to the control groups (p p C. communis Linn is a promising candidate against common pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords

• antibacterial mechanism
• antibacterial substances
• <i>Commelina communis</i> Linn
• traditional Chinese herb
• pathogenic bacteria