Antioxidant and antibiotic-modulatory potential of Teucrium polium ethanolic extract against gene-modified antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains

Tadevosyan, Silvard; Babayan, Anush; Sahakyan, Naira

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Antioxidant and antibiotic-modulatory potential of Teucrium polium ethanolic extract against gene-modified antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains

Silvard Tadevosyan¹

, Anush Babayan¹

, Naira Sahakyan²

1- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Biotechnology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, ArmeniaResearch Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia
2- Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology & Biotechnology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia2 Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, 1 A. Manoogian Str., 0025 Yerevan, Armenia , sahakyannaira@ysu.am

Abstract: (53 Views)

Background and Objectives: The ethanolic extract of Teucrium polium (TPE) was investigated for its antioxidant activity, phenolic and flavonoid content, and potential to modulate antibiotic efficacy against antibiotic-resistant E. coli strains.
Methods: For evaluation of antioxidant properties, chemical-based tests were applied (total phenolic and flavonoid content, antiradical activity in 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) test). Antibacterial properties of TPE alone and in combination with antibiotics, as well as their effect on proton-flux rate through cell membrane were explored on bacterial strains.
Results: The TPE demonstrated significant antioxidant activity (IC₅₀ = 73.89 µg/mL) and contained high levels of phenolic (181.7 ± 2.1 mg GAE/g) and flavonoid (95.4 ± 3.1 mg QE/g) compounds. Although TPE exhibited no direct antibacterial effects against tested microorganisms, it significantly enhanced the efficacy of ampicillin and kanamycin against these strains. TPE reduced the MIC values of both antibiotics and affected bacterial growth kinetics by reducing growth rates and prolonging lag phases in resistant E. coli strains. Furthermore, TPE influenced membrane-associated properties, specifically reducing proton flux in bacteria, which likely contributed to its modulatory effects.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that T. polium ethanolic extract acts as an effective antibiotic resistance modulator, offering a potential adjuvant therapy to combat bacterial resistance. Future research should focus on identifying the specific bioactive compounds responsible for these effects and evaluating their therapeutic applicability.