ARTICLE
Anti-Quorum Sensing Activityof Cymbopogon citratus onChromobacterium violaceum Isolated from the Water Environment
Abstract
Abstract Bacteria communicate via quorum-sensing (QS) before exhibiting any beneficial or detrimental effect to man and the environment. This QS necessitates bacterial biofilm formation leading to medical and environmental consequences. Interrupting QS using herbs may address membrane biofouling, prevent biofilm-related diseases and reduce the chances of bacterial resistance. In this study, leaves of Cymbopogoncitratus were extracted in n-hexane, acetone, ethyl acetate, methanol and distilled water. Anti-quorum sensing (AQS) activities of the extracts were investigated at qualitative and quantitative levels againstChromobacterium violaceum, using solid and liquid media bioassays. Compounds with peak AQS activities were characterized and identified using chromatographic techniques. The aqueous extract recorded the highest yield (3.74%), which indicates the potential of distilled water to recover appreciable quantity ofC. citratusextract. Widest zone of AQS activity (10.50mm) was obtained fromboth aqueous and methanol extracts. Methanol extract revealed the peak violacein inhibition (31.48%). This signifies that the polar extracts possessd compounds with better AQS features. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) identified Hexadecanoic acid methyl esteras the compoundwith the highest AQS activity.
