Acacia dudgeoni Craib. ex Holl (Mimosaceae): Potential Inhibitor of Biofilm Formation and Quorum Sensing in P. aeruginosa PAO1

Aims: The study aims to assess the ability of Acacia dudgeoni bark to antagonize quorum sensing system, expression of virulence factor and biofilm formation.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Applied Biochemistry and Chemistry (LABIOCA), University Joseph KI-ZERBO between December 2018 to April 2019.

Methodology: Methanol extract from A. dudgeoni stem bark, was used for the investigations. The reporters strain Chromobacterium violaceum CV026 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 were used to measure the impact of extract on quorum sensing controlled violacein and pyocyanin production. P. aeruginosa PAO1 was used to measure the impact on biofilm formation.

Results: At different concentrations (50-400 µg/mL) A. dudgeoni methanol extract quenched the quorum sensing mechanism. Significant inhibition of virulence factor, pyocyanin was recorded (66% of inhibition at 400 µg/mL) without affect negatively the growth of P. aeruginosa PAO1. The formation of biofilm was also affected with a reduction up to 59% at the concentration of 400 µg/mL.

Conclusion: The anti-quorum sensing and anti-biofilm properties of this medicinal plant could serve as a source in the developpement of new effective anti- quorum sensing drugs.