Holoparasites Cuscuta platyloba and Cuscuta xanthochortos inhibit Staphylococcus aureus and biofilm: a metabolomics approach

• Published in: Journal of herbal medicine 2023-12, Vol.42, p.100766, Article 100766
• Main Authors: Costa, Caroline De Moura, Boaretto, Amanda Galdi, Barros, Thayná Fernandes, Alves, Flávio Macedo, da Silva Trentin, Danielle, Silva, Denise Brentan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biofilms; Chemometrics; Cuscuta platyloba; Cuscuta xanthochortos; Dodders; Parasitic plants
• ISSN: 2210-8033
• DOI: 10.1016/j.hermed.2023.100766

Cuscuta platyloba Progel. and Cuscuta xanthochortos Mart. are holoparasites, which have been used to treat microbial infections, inflammation, and ulcers. Thus, the present study investigated the antibacterial and antibiofilm properties of these Cuscuta species, and applied metabolomics approaches to suggest the bioactive constituents. C. platyloba and C. xanthochortos were extracted by percolation to obtain the crude ethanol extract, and fractions by liquid-liquid extraction. These samples were evaluated against Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa to determine bacterial growth and biofilm formation. The metabolomic profile was determined by LC-DAD-MS, and statistical analysis (univariate and chemometrics) was applied to correlate the chemical compounds with antibacterial and antibiofilm activities. The ethanol extracts were not active against S. aureus and P. aeruginosa. The ethyl acetate fractions were active against S. aureus and inhibited more than 74% of biofilm formation without changing the bacterial growth, while the dichloromethane fraction of C. platyloba inhibited approximately 94% of S. aureus biofilm formation and decreased the bacterial growth. Eighty-five compounds were annotated and the Pearson r correlation analysis showed mainly lignans, flavonoids, and phenylpropanoids positively correlated with the S. aureus antibiofilm activity. Additionally, iridoids and lignans were related to the antibacterial activity. C. platyloba and C. xanthochortos are natural sources of promising anti-S. aureus compounds, including flavonoids, phenylpropanoids, iridoids, and flavonoids. •Cuscuta xanthochortos inhibited biofilm formation of Staphylococcus aureus•Cuscuta platyloba inhibited S. aureus biofilm formation and decrease bacterial growth•Metabolomics approach classified samples from analyzed dodders•Lignans, flavonoids and phenylpropanoids correlated with S. aureus antibiofilm activity•Iridoids and lignans correlated with antibacterial activity against S. aureus