Quercetin Caused Redox Homeostasis Imbalance and Activated the Kynurenine Pathway

Abstract

The search for new and better antimicrobial therapy is a continuous effort. Quercetin is a polyphenol with promising antimicrobial properties. However, the understanding of its antimicrobial mechanism is limited. In this study, we investigated the biochemical mechanistic action of quercetin as an antibacterial compound. Isolates of Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Staphylococcus aureus were initially exposed to quercetin for antibacterial evaluation. Subsequently, S. aureus (Gram-positive) and E. coli (Gram-negative) cells were exposed to quercetin with or without ascorbic acid, and cells were harvested for selected biochemical assays. These assays included redox homeostasis (lipid peroxidation, total thiol, total antioxidant capacity), nitric oxide, and kynurenine concentration as well as DNA fragmentation. The results revealed that quercetin caused lipid peroxidation in the bacterial isolates. Lipid peroxidation may indicate ensuing oxidative stress resulting from quercetin treatment. Furthermore, tryptophan degradation to kynurenine was activated by quercetin in S. aureus but not in E. coli, suggesting that local L-tryptophan concentration might become limiting for bacterial growth. These findings, considered together, may indicate that quercetin restricts bacterial growth by promoting oxidative cellular stress, as well as by reducing the local L-tryptophan availability by activating the kynurenine pathway, thus contributing to our understanding of the molecular mechanism of the antimicrobial action of quercetin.

Flavonoids-Rich Plant Extracts Against Helicobacter pylori Infection as Prevention to Gastric Cancer

“…Feasible antimicrobial mechanisms of action of quercetin have been described ( Adeyemi et al, 2020 ) in S. aureus and E. coli . Quercetin can initiate the peroxidation of the outer lipid membrane in gram-negative bacteria, such as E. coli .…”

Proteomic Profiling and Stress Response in Pediococcus acidilactici under Acetic Acid

“…The protein concentration was measured using the bicinchoninic acid (BCA) protein assay kit (Beyotime Institute of Biotechnology, China) using BSA as a standard. The concentrations of malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were detected using the common methods in the literature. , Meanwhile, the dried cell weight, protein concentration, or OD 600 of cell supernatants was assayed.…”

“…The concentrations of malonaldehyde (MDA) and glutathione (GSH) were detected using the common methods in the literature. 13,14 Meanwhile, the dried cell weight, protein concentration, or OD 600 of cell supernatants was assayed.…”