Anti-Biofilm Activity of Oleacein and Oleocanthal from Extra-Virgin Olive Oil toward <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>

Abstract

New antimicrobial molecules effective against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, known as an antibiotic-resistant “high-priority pathogen”, are urgently required because of its ability to develop biofilms related to healthcare-acquired infections. In this study, for the first time, the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence activities of a polyphenolic extract of extra-virgin olive oil as well as purified oleocanthal and oleacein, toward P. aeruginosa clinical isolates were investigated. The main result of our study was the anti-virulence activity of the mixture of oleacein and oleocanthal toward multidrug-resistant and intermediately resistant strains of P. aeruginosa isolated from patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia or surgical site infection. Specifically, the mixture of oleacein (2.5 mM)/oleocanthal (2.5 mM) significantly inhibited biofilm formation, alginate and pyocyanin production, and motility in both P. aeruginosa strains (p P. aeruginosa infections, particularly in the era of increasing antimicrobial resistance.

Keywords

• oleacein
• oleocanthal
• <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>
• antibiotic resistance
• anti-biofilm activity