Ellagic acid screened from Rosa rugosa cv. 'Plena': Antibacterial mechanism against Staphylococcus aureus and application in leafy vegetable preservation.

Abstract

In this study, a novel high-resolution antibacterial profiling method was employed to rapidly screen natural antibacterial candidates from Rosa rugosa cv. 'Plena'. Ellagic acid was successfully screened, and its antibacterial activity, action mechanism, proteomic analysis, and application potential against Staphylococcus aureus were systematically investigated. The results demonstrated that Ellagic acid exerted antibacterial effects by disrupting the integrity of bacterial cell membranes and walls, accompanied by impairment of intracellular metabolic processes, inhibition of extracellular polymeric substance synthesis, and suppression of bacterial respiratory function. Proteomic analysis further revealed three core mechanisms: inhibition of protein/nucleic acid synthesis, destruction of membrane integrity, and inhibition of biofilm formation. Additionally, Ellagic acid was confirmed to significantly reduce the viable count of S. aureus in spinach, indicating its promising potential in food preservation applications.