Effects of Copaifera duckei Dwyer oleoresin on the cell wall and cell division of Bacillus cereus

• Published in: Journal of medical microbiology Vol. 62; no. 7; pp. 1032 - 1037
• Main Authors: DOS SANTOS, Elizabeth Cristina Gomes, DONNICI, Claudio Luis, DA SILVA CAMARGOS, Elizabeth Ribeiro, DE REZENDE, Adriana Augusto, DE AGUIAR ANDRADE, Eloisa Helena, LIRA SOARES, Luiz Alberto, DE MACÊDO FARIAS, Luiz, DE CARVALHO, Maria Auxiliadora Roque, DAS GRAÇAS ALMEIDA, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Reading Society for General Microbiology 01-07-2013
• Subjects: Anti-Bacterial Agents - administration & dosage; Anti-Bacterial Agents - chemistry; Anti-Bacterial Agents - pharmacology; Bacillus cereus - cytology; Bacillus cereus - drug effects; Bacteriology; Biological and medical sciences; Cell Division - drug effects; Cell Wall - drug effects; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; Fabaceae - chemistry; Fabaceae - classification; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests; Microbiology; Miscellaneous; Plant Extracts - administration & dosage; Plant Extracts - chemistry; Plant Extracts - pharmacology; Plant Oils - chemistry; Plant Oils - pharmacology; Vancomycin - pharmacology; Bacillus cereus; Bacillales; Leguminosae; Dicotyledones; Angiospermae; Cell division; Bacteria; Spermatophyta; Bacillaceae; Cell wall
• ISSN: 0022-2615; 1473-5644
• DOI: 10.1099/jmm.0.060046-0

The aim of this work was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of Copaifera duckei oleoresin and to determine its possible mechanism of action against bacteria of clinical and food interest. The antibacterial activity was determined by agar diffusion and dilution methods; the mechanism of action by transmission electron microscopy and by SDS-PAGE; the bioactive compounds by bioautography; and the chemical analysis by GC/MS. Oleoresin showed activity against nine of the 11 strains of bacteria tested. Bacillus cereus was the most sensitive, with a MIC corresponding to 0.03125 mg ml(-1) and with a bactericidal action. Oleoresin acted on the bacterial cell wall, removing proteins and the S-layer, and interfering with the cell-division process. This activity probably can be attributed to the action of terpenic compounds, among them the bisabolene compound. Gram-negative bacteria tested were not inhibited. C. duckei oleoresin is a potential antibacterial, suggesting that this oil could be used as a therapeutic alternative, mainly against B. cereus.