Evaluation of Benzaldehyde as an Antibiotic Modulator and Its Toxic Effect against Drosophila melanogaster

Abstract

Products of natural origin remain important in the discovery of new bioactive molecules and are less damaging to the environment. Benzaldehyde is a product of the metabolism of plants, and similarly to oxygenated terpenes, it can have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and toxic action against Drosophila melanogaster; we aimed to verify these activities. The broth microdilution tests determined the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of benzaldehyde alone and in association with antibiotics and ethidium bromide (EtBr). Toxicity against Drosophila melanogaster was determined by fumigation tests that measured lethality and damage to the locomotor system. The results indicated that there was an association of norfloxacin and ciprofloxacin with benzaldehyde, from 64 μg/mL to 32 μg/mL of ciprofloxacin in the strain K6028 and from 256 μg/mL to 128 μg/mL of norfloxacin in the strain 1199B; however, the associations were not able to interfere with the functioning of the tested efflux pumps. In addition, benzaldehyde had a toxic effect on flies. Thus, the results proved the ability of benzaldehyde to modulate quinolone antibiotics and its toxic effects on fruit flies, thus enabling further studies in this area.

Phytochemicals, Antioxidant Activities, and Toxicological Screening of Native Australian Fruits Using Zebrafish Embryonic Model

“…Alkaloids including boldine, caffeoylcholine, glycocitridine, anabasamine, and convolidine were tentatively identified only in Muntries. The adverse effects of muntries could also be attributed to estragole (identified in Muntries only), a compound of known toxicity for Drosophila melanogaster , genotoxic and hepatocarcinogen, and forming DNA adducts in mouse liver [ 46 , 47 ]. The higher concentration of flavonoids could inactivate the toxicity of estragole [ 48 , 49 ].…”

Floral Phytochemistry: Impact of Volatile Organic Compounds and Nectar Secondary Metabolites on Pollinator Behavior and Health

“…[104] In addition to GABA, two other non-protein AAs found in nectar, taurine (38) and β-alanine (39), activate GABA A receptors. [98] Taurine acts as an agonist at GABA A receptors [53][54][55] and is expected increase inhibition in a similar way to GABA as in the case of Drosophila, in which taurine reduces locomotion and increases the amount of time the flies sleep. [108] Similarly to taurine, β-alanine activates GABA A receptors [107] and is expected to increase inhibition.…”

“…[17] Benzaldehyde is a product of the metabolism of plants which can have antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus and toxic action against Drosophila melanogaster. [54] Moreover, Neto and colleagues showed the ability of benzaldehyde to modulate quinolone antibiotics and its toxic effects on fruit flies. [54] Benzaldehyde can thus act as generalist insect attractant while having negative impact on bacteria and fruit flies.…”

Efflux Pump (QacA, QacB, and QacC) and β-Lactamase Inhibitors? An Evaluation of 1,8-Naphthyridines against Staphylococcus aureus Strains

“…The QacA protein is encoded by plasmids that confer resistance to several distinct substrates, such as quaternary ammonium compounds, dyes, DNA intercalants, and antibiotics. When the gene encoding QacB was sequenced from plasmid pSK23, it was found to be very similar to qacA , despite the observed difference in the substrate that had been the basis of their distinction [ 29 , 31 , 32 , 33 ].…”

“…Given the importance of these proteins in antibiotic resistance and bacterial metabolic functions, the identification of efflux pump inhibitors (EPIs) has been the target of several drug development studies [ 32 , 33 ]. These molecules are administered along with antibiotics to prevent their extrusion and increase their intracellular concentration [ 36 , 37 ].…”