Background and aims: The massive utilisation of antibiotics increases resistant-gene producing by the bacteria. Many bacteria, including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), has been resistant against ampicillin (AMP). The combination of herbal extract with AMP is expected to generate synergistic effects and restore the susceptibility of MRSA against AMP. This study aims to analyse the potency of Sauropus androgynus extract (SAE) as a single extract and with AMP combination against MRSA.
Material and Methods: Sauropus androgynus was extracted using 60% ethanol. SAE biochemical compounds were analysed qualitatively and quantitatively. SAE, AMP and SAE + AMP was tested against MRSA isolates using minimum inhibitory concentration and fractional inhibitory concentration. The inhibition of penicillin-binding proteins 2a (PBP2a) was analysed using a latex agglutination test. Further, the disruptive membrane effects of SAE, AMP and SAE + AMP was analysed using a scanning electron microscope. The analysis of data was conducted using SPSS version 16 with a p-value of 0.01.
Results: SAE contained bioactive compounds such as phenolic and flavonoid. Further, 2 mg/ml of SAE can be used as the potential concentration against MRSA isolates in vitro. In addition, the utilisation of SAE + AMP generated the synergistic effects, restore the susceptibility of the isolates against AMP, decrease the synthesis of PBP2a by the MRSA, and change the membrane ultrastructurally.
Conclusion: This study indicated that the utilisation of SAE potentially inhibits the growth of MRSA through the decreasing of PBP2a, disrupted the membrane of MRSA and the combination of SAE + AMP showed synergistic effects against MRSA.
Key words: ampicillin, herbal extract, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, Sauropus androgynus, ultrastructure
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