Anti-Biofilm, Antibacterial, and Anti-Quorum Sensing Activities of Selected South African Plants Traditionally Used to Treat Diarrhoea

Abstract

The development of resistance of microorganisms to conventional antibiotics is a major global health concern; hence, there is an increasing interest in medicinal plants as a therapeutic option. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial, anti-biofilm, and anti-quorum activities of crude extracts prepared using various solvents of nine indigenous South African plants used locally for the treatment of diarrhoea. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was determined using the broth microdilution method and the crystal violet assay was used to test the anti-biofilm activity of the extracts against a panel of bacteria. Anti-quorum sensing activity of the extracts was assessed via inhibition of violacein production in <i>Chromobacterium violaceum</i> ATCC 12472. Preliminary screening of extracts against <i>E. coli</i> ATCC 25922 revealed that the acetone extracts had significant activity, with MIC values ranging from 0.04 to 0.63 mg/mL. Further screening against a panel of bacterial pathogens showed that the acetone extract of <i>Bauhinia bowkeri</i> was the most active with MIC of 0.01 mg/mL against <i>Salmonella enteritidis</i>, followed by <i>Searsia lancea</i> with MIC of 0.03 mg/mL against <i>Bacillus cereus</i>. All the plant extracts prevented the attachment of biofilms by more than 50% against at least one of the tested bacteria. However, only the mature biofilm of <i>B</i>. <i>cereus</i> was susceptible to the extracts, with 98.22% eradication by <i>Searsia pendulina</i> extract. The minimum quorum sensing inhibitory concentration of the extracts ranged from 0.08 to 0.32 mg/mL with <i>S</i>. <i>lancea</i> having the most significant activity. The extract of <i>S</i>. <i>lancea</i> had the best violacein production inhibitory activity with IC₅₀ value of 0.17 mg/mL. Overall, the results obtained indicate that acetone extracts of <i>S</i>. <i>leptodictya</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>lancea</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>batophylla</i>, <i>S</i>. <i>pendulina</i>, <i>B</i>. <i>galpinii</i>, and <i>B</i>. <i>bowkeri</i> possess antibacterial and anti-biofilm activities and can modulate quorum sensing through the inhibition of violacein production. Therefore, these results signify the potential of the selected plant extracts in treating diarrhoea through inhibition of bacterial growth, biofilm formation inhibition, and quorum sensing antagonism, supporting their medicinal use.