Research article2013Peer reviewedOpen access
The Apparent Quorum-Sensing Inhibitory Activity of Pyrogallol Is a Side Effect of Peroxide Production
Defoirdt, Tom; Pande, Gde Sasmita Julyantoro; Baruah, Kartik; Bossier, Peter
Abstract
There currently is more and more interest in the use of natural products, such as tea polyphenols, as therapeutic agents. The polyphenol compound pyrogallol has been reported before to inhibit quorum-sensing-regulated bioluminescence in Vibrio harveyi. Here, we report that the addition of 10 mg(-1) liter(-1) pyrogallol protects both brine shrimp (Artemia franciscana) and giant river prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) larvae from pathogenic Vibrio harveyi, whereas the compound showed relatively low toxicity (therapeutic index of 10). We further demonstrate that the apparent quorum-sensing-disrupting activity is a side effect of the peroxide-producing activity of this compound rather than true quorum-sensing inhibition. Our results emphasize that verification of minor toxic effects by using sensitive methods and the use of appropriate controls are essential when characterizing compounds as being able to disrupt quorum sensing.
Published in
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
2013, Volume: 57, number: 6, pages: 2870-2873 Publisher: AMER SOC MICROBIOLOGY
UKÄ Subject classification
Microbiology
Pharmacology and Toxicology
Publication identifier
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1128/AAC.00401-13
Permanent link to this page (URI)
https://res.slu.se/id/publ/100081