ANTIMICROBIAL PEPTIDES FROM COELOMOCYTES CYTOSOL OF PARACENTROTUS LIVIDUS WITH PHARMACEUTICAL POTENTIAL AS ANTI-STAPHYLOCOCCI BIOFILM AGENTS

Abstract

Aims: To evaluate the anti-biofilm activity of the commercially available essential oils from two Boswellia species. Methods and Results: The susceptibility of staphylococcal and Candida albicans biofilms was determined by methyltiazotetrazolium (MTT) staining. At concentrations ranging from 217Æ3 lg ml)1 (25% v ⁄ v) to 6Æ8 lg ml)1 (0Æ75% v ⁄ v), the essential oil of Boswellia papyrifera showed considerable activity against both Staphylococcus epidermidis DSM 3269 and Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 biofilms. The anti-microbial efficacy of this oil against S. epidermidis RP62A biofilms was also tested using live ⁄ dead staining in combination with fluorescence microscopy, and we observed that the essential oil of B. papyrifera showed an evident anti-biofilm effect and a prevention of adhesion at sub-MIC concentrations. Boswellia rivae essential oil was very active against preformed C. albicans ATCC 10231 biofilms and inhibited the formation of C. albicans biofilms at a sub-MIC concentration. Conclusions: Essential oils of Boswellia spp. could effectively inhibit the growth of biofilms of medical relevance. Significance and Impact of the Study: Boswellia spp. essential oils represent an interesting source of anti-microbial agents in the development of new strategies to prevent and treat biofilms.