Cuminum cyminum L. Essential Oil: A Promising Antibacterial and Antivirulence Agent Against Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Abstract

<i>Cuminum cyminum</i> L. (cumin) is valued for its aromatic and medicinal properties. There are several reports of antibacterial activity of <i>C. cyminum</i> essential oil (CcEO). Accordingly, the present study was conducted to investigate the mechanism(s) of action of the CcEO against multidrug-resistant (MDR) <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>. Therefore, 10 <i>S</i>. <i>aureus</i> MDR isolates, obtained from different sources, were selected based on the antibiotic susceptibility patterns and the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute definition and subjected to the examinations. Our results exhibited promising bacteriostatic and bactericidal properties of the CcEO. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and the minimum bactericidal concentration values ranged from 5 to 10 and 10 to 20 μL ⋅ mL^-1, respectively. Scanning electron microscope was used to assess the bacterial cell structure and morphology after the induction with 1/2 MIC concentration of the CcEO. The observed morphological changes appeared to be deformation of the cell membrane and destruction of the cells. In the case of quorum sensing inhibitory potential, treatment of <i>S. aureus</i> isolates with the sub-MIC concentrations (1/2 MIC) of the CcEO significantly reduced the <i>hld</i> expression (3.13-fold downregulation), which considerably controls <i>S. aureus</i> quorum-sensing accessory regulator system. Another virulence factor influenced by the CcEO was the polysaccharide intercellular adhesion production system, as an important component of cell-cell adhesion and biofilm formation. Consequently, the expression level of the intercellular adhesion (<i>ica</i>) locus in the <i>S. aureus</i> cells was examined following treatment with CcEO. The results showed significant decrease (-3.3-fold) in <i>ica</i> expression, indicating that the CcEO could potentially interfere with the process of biofilm formation. Using the ethidium bromide efflux inhibition assay, the <i>S. aureus</i> NorA efflux pump was phenotypically but not genotypically (in quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay) affected by the CcEO treatment. Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis, cuminic aldehyde (38.26%), α,β-dihydroxyethylbenzene (29.16%), 2-caren-10-al (11.20%), and γ-terpinene (6.49%) were the most detected compounds. The antibacterial and antivirulence action of the CcEO at sub-MIC concentrations means that no microbial resistance will be promoted and developed after the treatment with this agent. These findings revealed that the CcEO is a promising antibacterial agent to control infections caused by the MDR <i>S. aureus</i> strains.